PNP looks into motives behind mayor’s slay

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police is looking into possible motives behind the killing of Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy over the weekend following the activation of a special task group to investigate the incident, PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo said Monday.

Bacalzo said that it is still too early in the investigation to say that the motive of the killer was political but stressed that the task group was bent on resolving the case and were “considering all possible angles.”

The Special Investigation Task Group Uy (SITG Uy) is composed of members from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the Intelligence Group, PNP Crime Laboratory, and the National Bureau of Investigation led by Region 8 police Deputy Regional Director Senior Superintendent Edgar Basbas.

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said that SITG Uy was immediately created following reports of the shooting incident and has been tasked to focus on investigating on the mayor’s death.

Bacalzo said that he kept a close eye at the investigation with Region 8 police director Chief Superintendent Arnold Revilla who inspected the crime scene and oversaw a re-enactment of the incident on Sunday.

Uy was shot dead at a cultural presentation in Hinabangan town in Samar province Saturday night. Samar Board Member Eunice Babalcon who was standing next to Uy was also injured.

The victims were rushed to the Divine Word Hospital in Tacloban City but Uy died while receiving medical treatment Sunday morning.