Ilocos police told: Work closely with Ruiz family

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa has ordered the Ilocos regional police to closely coordinate with the family of the slain president of the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) in its investigation.

Verzosa asked investigators to work closely with Cheeko Ruiz, a daughter of INEC president Lorenzo Rey Ruiz, 58, who was murdered last Friday in Currimao, Ilocos Norte.

The PNP chief vowed to personally monitor the prog­ress of the probe.

Police said Ruiz died from bullet wounds in the head, neck and chest.

Three other INEC officers – board directors John Que, Rey Lazo and Tony Foronda – were with Ruiz when the incident happened.

Members of police Task Force Ruiz have arrested two suspects in the Ruiz killing, Saturnino Pagalog and Victor Cajudoy, both residents of Barangay Pagsanjan, Badoc town, following a hot pursuit operation.

In a report, Senior Superintendent Benjamin Lusad, Ilocos Norte police director, said witnesses positively identified the two as involved in the killing. A third suspect, Noel Aureliano, of Barangay Alay, Badoc town, remains at large.

An earlier report said Ruiz had just arrived at the INEC substation compound in Barangay Lang-ayan, Currimao town to attend a board meeting when two motorcycle-riding men shot him while two others, also on board a motorcycle, provided backup.

Police said a security aide of Ruiz was able to return fire, hitting one of the suspects, Juanito Ancheta, 42, who later died in the hospital.