Ex-guard of PNoy shot dead in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY—A still unidentified gunman shot dead a former guard of President Benigno Aquino in Magpet, North Cotabato on Friday, the police said Saturday.

Chief Inspector Romel Constantino, the Magpet town police chief, identified the victim as retired Sergeant Ronel Galupo, 42, a member of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) during Aquino’s time.

Galupo was about to enter his house on RVM Subdivision in Barangay Poblacion, Magpet around 4:30 p.m. when the lone gunman approached him from behind and fired using a .45 caliber pistol.

The suspect fled on a waiting motorbike driven by another man.

Constantino said Galupo was a member of the Army’s 56th Infantry Battalion and retired when Aquino stepped out of office in 2016.

Until his death, Galupo served as security officer of a Davao City-based private firm and only went home to Magpet to visit his family and children.

Constantino said the motive of the attack remained unknown.