PNP pursuing persons of interest in Aparri vice mayor’s slay

Police cordon off the van that carried Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda of Aparri, Cagayan and his companions when they were shot  and killed in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya on Sunday, February 19, 2023,   (PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NUEVA VIZCAYA PROVINCIAL POLICE OFFICE)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has identified persons of interest in the fatal ambush of Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda.

“With the case of our vice mayor in Aparri, we have persons of interest that are being pursued by our investigators,” PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said on Monday.

Alameda and his five security escorts and companions were killed in an ambush in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya on Feb. 19.  

Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. was wounded earlier, while his four companions were killed in an ambush on their convoy in Maguing town on Feb. 17. 

Mayor Ohto Montawal of Datu Montawal, Maguindanao, was shot and wounded inside his vehicle along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City on Feb. 22. 

“I would say that these are isolated cases, but still, these are killings that need to be solved and to be pursued by our law enforcement agencies in investigating the cause or the motive behind the [attacks],” Azurin said.

A criminal case may already be lodged within the week against the suspects behind the attempt on the life of Adiong, while police have yet to make a breakthrough in the case of Montawal. 

“We are trying to see why most of the killings of politicians happen when they’re far from their jurisdiction, so we’re advising them to continue the threat assessment,” he said.

Azurin also urged local government officials to tap the PNP for additional security assistance when traveling outside their coverage areas.

Earlier, Azurin ordered the regional offices of the PNP to conduct a threat assessment on the local government officials within the scope of their responsibility.

 gsg/abc