PNP chief says initial report on Ozamiz gang leaders’ shooting for submission to Roxas

PNP Director General Alan Purisima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine National Police chief, Director General Alan Purisima said Friday the initial findings of the PNP investigation team on the deaths of two Ozamiz robbery group leaders were now being finalized for submission to Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.

Purisima said the report contains the results of the re-enactment conducted by the fact-finding team of the supposed attack on the convoy carrying Ozamiz gang leaders Ricky Cadavero a.k.a Kambal, and Wilfredo Panogalinga a.k.a Kulot. The team was headed by Police Director Catalino Cuy.

The report includes the team’s analysis, Purisima said, but refused to provide details.

Purisima said relieved Calabarzon police director, Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona promised to give his statement within the day. Regional Special Operations Group chief, Superintendent Danilo Mendoza, on the other hand, was being assisted by his lawyer, but would not yet give his side of the story.

“Yes, there are answers . . . the question of what. It was somehow answered, also the question on where and when. But ‘How?’ of course there are many versios. And the ‘why’–still many things have yet to be answered,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino when asked if questions surrounding the incident have been answered.

“The investigation is not yet done,” the chief added.

Meanwhile, Purisima said the Internal Affairs Service has been tasked to study the incidents that happened within the jurisdiction of the Calabarzon Regional Police Office this year to determine the possible reasons behind various crimes that led resulted to the sacking of two regional police directors during the past six months.

In January, Chief Superintendent James Melad was relieved over the Atimonan shooting incident.

“We are studying different incidents that happened this year. Why did it happen in PRO 4A? Is it because there are many crime incidents in PRO 4A? Is it because it is already becoming a culture? If it is, we are going to do something about it,” Purisima said.

Originally posted at 1:02 p.m.