Roxas says slay of 2 Ozamis gang leaders raises more questions

MANILA, Philippines – Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II said Thursday that the killing of Ozamis robbery gang leaders Ricky Cadavero and Wilfredo Panogalinga Jr. raised more questions than answers due to the suspicious circumstances of the incident.

“Why is it that instead of entering the National Bilibid Prison they were transferred to another vehicle and supposedly taken for a ride to conduct the inquest proceedings?” Roxas asked during an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990AM.

“Inquest is done inside the prison,” Roxas said.

He further pointed out that the two were handcuffed in front despite the regulation that it should be at the back. The two had allegedly tried to get the gun of their police escorts after being ambushed by supposed motorcycle riding gunmen, Roxas said.

“These are just some of the suspicious circumstances that are the subject of our investigation,” Roxas said.

Cadavero and Panogalinga, two robbery gang leaders, were killed Monday night after motorcycle riding gunmen allegedly ambushed the police convoy that was on its way to turn over the two to the Bureau of Corrections.

Roxas said that intelligence operatives got unverified information that criminal syndicates within or outside the police organization wanted to get rid of the two victims to prevent certain information from getting out.