CIDG joins probe on Armscor exec’s slay

The Camp Crame-based Criminal Investigation and Detection group (CIDG) and the Intelligence Group (IG) have joined the investigation into last Wednesday’s ambush-slay of an executive of a local gun manufacturing firm in Marikina City.

Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD) said the CIDG, IG and elements of the Marikina City police are conducting interview on witnesses on the killing of Danilo de la Paz, 52, vice president and general manager of the Armscor Philippines, which has offices and a warehouse at Barangay Parang.

"We are looking at all angles in De la Paz’s killing and labor dispute is one of them," Valenzuela told The Star.

The EPD director said he requested the CIDG National Capital Region under Superintendent Don Montenegro and the IG headed by Chief Superintendent Ismael Rafanan to step into the case to make the investigation "well rounded."

Representatives of the CIDG, IG and Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., Marikina City police chief, are locked in a "case conference" yesterday to determine the actions to be undertaken to solve the killing.

A police artist is now in the thick of preparing the cartographic sketches of five suspects as described by the witnesses. "Mas malawak na imbestigasyon ang gagawin para mabilis and pagkahuli sa mga suspects," said Valenzuela.

De la Paz was reporting for work on board his gray Isuzu trooper with license plate XMT 668 when waylaid by the suspects in the corner of Fortune Avenue and Champaca street in Barangay Parang at about 9:35 a.m. last Wednesday.

Four of the five suspects, who appeared to be waiting for De la Paz in the area, pumped 22 bullets into the victim.

Witnesses said the suspects dragged out of the vehicle the body of the victim and tried to start the vehicle’s engine but failed.

They left De la Paz’s vehicle in the middle of the street and commandeered a white L-300 van driven by Edgar Agresola, which was later found abandoned along Ipi-Ipil street in nearby Barangay Marikina Heights.

Valenzuela said bloodstains recovered inside the vehicle could be that of De la Paz’s. The EPD director could not say wheter the victim was armed at the time of the ambush—slaying.

De la Paz was a popular figure among the police hierarchy. He usually entertains policemen who come to the Armscor compound for shooting practice. — Non Alquitran