Retired cop, 2 others tagged in ambush

MANILA, Philippines – A retired policeman and his two alleged cohorts were arrested in connection with the ambush of a truck driver in Valenzuela City early yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Ranier Idio, city police chief, identified the suspects as former Pampanga policeman Senior Police Officer 4 Dominador Ileto Jr., 58, a resident of Bulacan; and Candaba, Pampanga residents Menandro Musngi, 36; and Manolo Nugat, 44.

The victim, Arnulfo Empimo, 27, a resident of Barangay Punturin, Valenzuela City, suffered several gunshot wounds and was declared dead on arrival at the Valenzuela General Hospital.

“The victim is only a driver, why he was liquidated is something we are still trying to find out,” Senior Inspector Artemio Delina told The STAR.

Delina, also chief of the Police Community Precinct 7 in Barangay Punturin, said he and his men were eating breakfast at the station at around 7:15 a.m., when a boy reported a shooting at the nearby Sta. Lucia Village.

Delina led a six-man team to the area, where they came upon Empimo lying on the pavement.

Witnesses told police the gunman fled in a green Isuzu Highlander (WPH-150) toward Meycauayan, Bulacan.

Delina sent the victim to the hospital and pursued the suspects. After 10 minutes, police cornered the suspects’ car at Barangay Libtong in Mecauayan, Bulacan.

Ileto, who was driving the get-away vehicle, yielded a licensed .45 caliber pistol with eight bullets, a Philippine National Police (PNP) ID, and an expired gun permit.

Police found inside the suspects’ car a sketch of Empimo’s residence, a photocopy of the victim’s bio-data with his photo as well as a bag containing three bull caps and a brown bonnet, a pair of pants and some shirts.

“Witnesses pointed to Musngi as the triggerman, who shot Empimo at close range while the victim was on board his motorcycle,” Delina said.

Idio directed his men yesterday to conduct deeper investigation into the case and find out whether Ileto’s group is responsible for other killings in Valenzuela.