Malabon cop killers identified

Police investigators are still stumped over the motive for the killing of a former Malabon police chief ambushed while on his way home Friday night in Malabon even as three suspects have been identified.

Northern Police District Office (NPDO) director Chief superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr., who has formed Task Force Dante for the quick identification and arrest of the killers, yesterday said the police is working round the clock to quickly resolve the case.

Sources, who would not be identified, said they have identified three suspects but are withholding information so as not to jeopardize ongoing operations.

Retired Police Superintendent Date Buenaventura, 58, of Dampalit, Malabon City, was waylaid by at least three men while trudging along the flooded street on a makeshift banca made of styropor at around 9 p.m. Friday.

The ex-police chief was reportedly on his way home from an undisclosed place when he was shot by the suspects using assorted handguns. Also wounded in the same incident was Danilo Billedo, 50, of Dampalit.

Both were taken to the Pagamutang Bayan ng Malabon where Buenaventura was declared dead on arrival. Chief Inspector Filemon Porciuncula, SOCO medico-legal officer who did the autopsy, said Buenaventura took nine gunshot wounds in the head and body, seven of them fatal.

The bullets went through his brain, heart, both lungs, the liver and intestines. Four slugs coming from caliber .38 and .45 handguns were recovered from the crime scene.

Superintendent Freddie Panen, Malabon police chief, said although they are in custody of two witnesses, they still face a blank wall as to the motive of the killers. While some sources say the killing could be politically motivated, the victim being identified with new Mayor Canuto "Tito" Oreta.

Oreta said he is leaving the police to do its work and would not speculate on the killing. He said he is a friend of the victim but is clueless on what could have prompted the suspects to kill him.

On the business rivalry angle, Oreta, a former police major himself, said he does not know of any business Buenaventura was engaged in since the latter retired from the police service.

This morning at flagraising ceremonies, where the flag was flown at half-mast in Buenaventura’s honor, Oreta promised to contribute some amount for the resolution of the case. – Jerry Botial