PNP chief relieves cops in slay of 2 Ozamis gang leaders

PNP Director General Alan Purisima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Philippine National Police chief, Director General Alan Purisima, has ordered the administrative relief of all police officers involved in the killing of the two leaders of notorious Ozamis crime group.

He said the move was taken pending the investigation of PNP’s-Internal Affairs Service on the circumstances that led to the death of Ricky Cadavero a.k.a “Kambal” and Wilfredo Panogalinga a.k.a “Kulot.”

The order covers all involved police escorts, as well as their immediate commanders.

Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, Calabarzon police director, earlier said the convicts were escorted by at least six police officers at the time they were killed in San Pedro, Laguna Monday evening.

Purisima said he has also ordered the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management to organize a fact-finding team to look into the criminal aspects of this incident.

“We will leave no stone unturned in this investigation.  We assure the public that this will be fair and the results will be made known as soon as possible,” he said.

Superintendent Erwin Oban, Calabarzon police spokesman, earlier alleged that two motorcycle-riding gunmen attacked the convoy carrying Cadavero and Panogalinga in an attempt to rescue them.

The attack occurred around 6:30 p.m. near the village of San Antonio in San Pedro, Laguna while the convicts were being transported back to the police camp after attending inquest proceedings for illegal possession of firearms and explosives case filed against them.

Cadavero and Panogalinga allegedly tried to grab the guns of their police escorts at the height of the exchange of gunfire between authorities and the gunmen.  In the commotion, the two got shot.

Cadavero was involved in several robbery incidents of money changers and banks in Metro Manila, including the incident at Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa in 2011.

Panogalinga, on the other hand, was said to be a key suspect in the shooting of American Robert Armstrong during a robbery at a 7 Eleven convenience store in Malate, Manila, last September 2012.

The Ozamis group, which they headed, is also believed to have been involved in helping the escape of three Chinese drug convicts in Cavite last February.

The two gang leaders were set to be turned over to the Department of Justice-Bureau of Corrections after their inquest.