Crack cop team to go after killers of judge

CAMP OSCAR FLORENDO, La Union, Philippines – A special investigation task force has been created to go after the killers of a Vigan City judge who was gunned down on Monday morning while waiting for a bus ride in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur where he resided.

Judge Reynaldo Lacasandile of Vigan City Regional Trial Court Branch 20 was shot dead with a caliber .45 pistol in Barangay Lacong, Tagudin town by two men on board a red Honda motorcycle at around 4:45 a.m. Monday.

Chief Superintendent Orlando Mabutas, Region 1 police director, said the crack police team is composed of personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Crime Laboratory Service, the intelligence and investigation and detective management divisions of the regional police, and the Tagudin police.

Mabutas told Bombo Radyo Dagupan yesterday that the probe team would look into all possible motives, both personal and work-related, behind Lacasandile’s killing, pulled off by what he suspected were guns-for-hire.

Senior Superintendent Eduardo Dopale, Ilocos Sur police director, told The STAR that a few days before the killing, suspicious-looking men riding a motorcycle were seen conducting surveillance at the judge’s residence in Barangay Salvacion, Tagudin town.

“We are still in the process of identifying them through our witnesses,” Dopale said.

Meanwhile, the Ilocos Norte police has created a special team, too, to look into the killing of Elpidio Sy, municipal treasurer of Pagudpud town, also on Monday morning.

The twin killings and the fatal shooting of Entong Musa, election officer of Tuburan, Basilan, have prompted Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo to intensify and strictly enforce the nationwide gun ban in line with the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.

As of Monday, 192 violators, including nine government officials, four policemen, and two soldiers, were arrested in police checkpoints across the country. – With Jun Elias and Mike Frialde