Cops face raps over slay of crime watch leader

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) will not tolerate the acts of two of its members involved in the killing of an official of Citizens Crime Watch (CCW) in Oriental Mindoro on Sunday.

Senior Insp. Magdalino Pimentel Jr. of the First Maneuver Platoon of the Oriental Mindoro Police Public Safety Company and Insp. Markson Almeranez, chief of police of Socorro town, will face charges for allegedly killing CCW leader Zenaida Luz, Mindoro Oriental police director Senior Supt. Cris Birung said yesterday.

“The swift actions of the Mindoro Oriental provincial police chief to respond to the distress call, arrest the suspects and file criminal charges before the court clearly manifest the stand of the PNP not to tolerate any wrongdoings even from among our ranks,” said PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos.

“This is in line with the directive of PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa to cleanse the ranks of misfits and rogue cops. The two suspects will have their day in court for the acts they committed,” Carlos added.

Birung said murder and direct assault against agents of persons in authority charges will be filed against Pimentel and Almeranez.

Birung said Pimentel and Almeranez, while riding on a motorcycle in civilian clothes, allegedly shot and killed Luz in front of her house in Barangay Maligaya at around 11:40 p.m. on Sunday.

Dionido Quitain, chairman of Barangay Banutan, was in the area and saw Luz shot and her two assailants fleeing the scene on a motorcycle.

Quitain immediately relayed the incident to a police mobile team, which chased the fleeing duo.

Upon reaching Barangay Quinabigan in the adjacent town of Pinamalayan, one of the suspects fired at the police vehicle, prompting the lawmen to retaliate.

“Wounded, the riding in tandem were cornered and arrested. Arresting lawmen later identified Pimentel and Almeranez,” Birung added.

At the time of the arrest, Birung said Pimentel was wearing a bonnet and hooded jacket while Almeranez was wearing a face mask and a wig.

Policemen seized the suspects’ firearms.

Last Sept. 8, Almeranez was awarded as outstanding police commissioned officer by Dela Rosa.

A native of Sta. Mesa, Manila, Almeranez graduated fifth in the Philippine National Police Academy’s “Tagapamagitan” Class of 2013.

“With his good track record, we are also puzzled how he got involved in that incident,” Birung told The STAR in a phone interview. “We could not yet establish the motive behind the attack.”

Birung said they have yet to see the connection between the policemen and Luz, but vowed to get to the bottom of the case.