Police identify suspects in cop’s murder

Two of four suspected assassins who shot dead Cabuyao, Laguna town police chief Superintendent Eriberto Paglinawan in Silang, Cavite Friday morning have been identified and are now being hunted.

Paglinawan, 49, and a resident of Barangay Munting Ilog in Cavite, was shot dead by four assailants in an ambush along a national road in Barangay Lumil in Silang while he was en route to the municipal police station in Cabuyao. He died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body.

Two witnesses described two of the four suspects in the Paglinawan slay for the police. Cartographic sketches of these suspects have been made by police artists based on the witnesses’ descriptions.

The first suspect described by witnesses is male, with a small build, aged 25-30 years, at least 5’7" to 5’8" tall and weighing between 140-150 pounds.

Witnesses said he had prominent cheekbones and a dark complexion. He also tried to commandeer Paglinawan’s car, witnesses said, and was armed with a .45 cal. pistol.

The second suspect described by witnesses is also male, 21-25 years old, 5’4" to 5’5", with a fair complexion, stocky and sporting a flat-top haircut. Witnesses also said this suspect spoke with a Luzon-Tagalog accent. He was also armed with a .45 cal. pistol.

Paglinawan’s car had slowed to pass over a hump in the road when the suspects, who had been waiting at a nearby variety store, flagged Paglinawan down and opened fire on him and his vehicle, witnesses said.

The suspects, witnesses said, had been lying in wait for Paglinawan since 6 a.m. and one of them was overheard saying, "ang tagal naman dumating. Naiinip na ako (he’s taking so long to get here. I’m getting tired of waiting)."

Witnesses said the suspects were in their early 20s, clad in white shirts and were carrying black bags.

According to the witnesses, the suspects removed Paglinawan’s body from his Toyota Corolla sedan with plate number SDS 725 and laid it on the road and tried to commandeer the car.

The suspects stole Paglinawan’s service firearms, a .45 cal. pistol and an M14 rifle, before fleeing towards Barangay Hoyo.

Calabarzon regional director Chief Superintendent Enrique Galang Sr. said case investigators are looking into the possibility Paglinawan was killed over a land dispute.