Mastermind in Mindoro cop slay arrested

ORIENTAL MINDORO — Elements of the Calapan City police here arrested the alleged mastermind in the killing of Oriental Mindoro deputy police chief Senior Superintendent Rodrigo Foja yesterday morning, police said.

Senior Superintendent Voltaire Calzado, Oriental Mindoro police director, identified the suspects as PO1 Ricky Rom, who was arrested in Quiapo, Manila.

Calzado said Rom’s wife, Analyn, and brother, Ronald, both police officers in Oriental Mindoro, connived with the arresting team to effect his arrest.

Police arrested the suspect immediately when he showed up in Raon st. to meet his wife and brother unaware of the entrapment operation.

Rom will be charged with murder for allegedly conniving with his brother, Rene, in liquidating Foja over a personal grudge.

Investigation showed that Rene personally requested Foja to exempt his brother from taking the Special Counter-Insurgency Operation Unit Training (SCOUT) but the request was turned down.

This reportedly drew the ire of the suspects, who allegedly planned the assassination to get even with Foja.

However, Rene was also killed when the security back-up of Foja managed to return fire after he was shot. He sustained four gunshot wounds. Rom is presently detained at the Oriental Mindoro Provincial jail in Calapan awaiting charges to be filed against him.