Revenge eyed as motive in cop killing

Revenge is being eyed as motive in the killing of a rookie police officer, whose body was found inside the trunk of his own car in Parañaque City last Tuesday.

"We are believe that revenge is the strongest motive so far," said Chief Superintendent Wilfredo Garcia, director of the Southern Police District (SPD), referring to the killing of PO1 Dennis Maligaya, 24.

Garcia briefed yesterday Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol on the progress of their investigation into the killing of Maligaya, who was assigned at the Regional Special Unit (RSAU) in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig.

Initial reports showed that Maligaya had been involved in a shooting incident near his house in Sampaloc, Manila last Saturday. The man he shot is being treated at a hospital.

Maligaya had been detained at Station 4 of the Western Police District (WPD) in Balic-Balic, Sampaloc and was released after settling the matter with the victim’s father and brother.

Querol said Maligaya reported to work last Tuesday.

At 8 p.m., Maligaya asked permission from his superiors to leave early, saying he needed to get back his service firearm which was confiscated by the night-shift investigator of Station 4.

Three hours later, Maligaya’s body was recovered inside the trunk of his car, a blue Toyota Corolla (UHK 429), which was abandoned near the Marina Subdivision along President Diosdado Macapagal Avenue in Parañaque City.

Garcia said Maligaya’s body showed signs of torture.

Chief Superintendent Ernest Belen, director of the crime laboratory of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said Maligaya was shot in the stomach. Another bullet grazed the left side of the body.

The wound on his stomach revealed that he was shot from a distance of one to 12 inches, Belen said.

Belen said autopsy report of the SPD Scene of the Crime Operations team showed that Maligaya died of hemorrhagic shock secondary to gunshot wounds.

The crime lab director said they have taken custody of Maligaya’s car for a thorough search of evidence since it was clear that the car was driven by somebody else to the crime scene.

According to Belen, no empty shells or slugs were recovered inside the vehicle.

Querol has directed Garcia to coordinate with the RSAU, headed by Superintendent Bobby Villanueva to solve Maligaya’s killing.