NPA suspected in cop killing

Police are investigating if the five- armed men who shot dead a Mandaluyong City plainclothes policeman last Friday were members of a New People’s Army (NPA) hit squad on a test mission in Metro Manila.

Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, Mandaluyong City police chief, said communist rebel involvement was suspected because the killing of PO3 John-John Justo didn’t seem to be the handiwork of ordinary robbers.

"There are indications that they are members of the armed liquidation squad of the communist movement. The said angle is being pursued relentlessly by our police investigators," said Velasquez.

Investigators from the Philippine National Police’s intelligence division have questioned the five suspects — Ramonet Moralidad, Victor Valdez, Randy Florentino, Chito Catbagan, and Jobert Dumlao — last weekend. They are detained at Mandaluyong City police headquarters. Velasquez refused to give details.

Justo was on a passenger jeepney on his way to the headquarters. Investigators said he later got down after apparently sensing that the five suspects — who were already aboard — were armed. But the five followed Justo and shot him in the head and chest without a word. They took his gun and a mobile phone. Justo died on the spot.

Police were able to arrest two of them when an angry mob ran after them. The gunmen fired on the mob, hurting three bystanders, including a child. Their three other cohorts were later caught.

Initial police findings showed that Moralidad brought the four other suspects to Metro Manila. Valdez, Florentino, Catbagan and Dumlao came from Isabela, Nueva Ecija and the Bicol region respectively.

"They don’t look like ordinary criminals. They were quite calm when they shot Justo. Maybe were just lucky that we got them quickly enough," Velasquez said. He added that they were armed with .45 caliber pistols, an issued firearm for communist rebel hit men.

Velasquez said the five were out to kill an errant member of the left-leaning Kilusang Mayo Uno labor group when they chanced upon Justo. He refused to name the group’s intended target.

"Our own investigation on the communist hit men angle will be over today. I would file my report early this week," Velasquez said.

The five suspects had earlier confessed to killing Justo but maintained that they didn’t know that he was a police officer.