NCR cop recently reassigned to ARMM shot dead in Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY – A police officer from the National Capital Region (NCR), who was recently reassigned to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), was shot dead in front of his rented house in Parang, Maguindanao, the police said on Saturday.

Senior Inspector Ronald de Leon, the ARMM police spokesperson, identified the slain police as SPO4 Marcelo Villagracia.  He died on the spot while his colleague, PO3 Rolando Yulo, was seriously injured in the Friday afternoon daring shooting.

Still in their uniforms, Villagracia and Yulo, who both moved to PNP-ARMM on orders of PNP Director Gen. Ronald dela Rosa, were returning to their boarding house, Agua Lodge in Barangay Making, Parang, Maguindanao when they were shot.

De Leon said Villagracia died on the spot while Yulo was rushed to a hospital in Cotabato City and remains in critical condition.

According to police investigators, the victims were walking toward the main entrance of Aqua Lodge when a white Ford Ranger arrived.  Its passengers alighted and opened fire on the two unsuspecting police officers using automatic rifles.

The motive and identities of the attackers remained unclear and de Leon said investigation continues.