Special police body formed to probe Mamba ambush

MANILA, Philippines - The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Cagayan Valley police has been tasked to look into the ambush of Presidential Legislative Liaison Office chief Manuel Mamba last Monday.

Chief Superintendent Rodrigo de Gracia, chief of the Police Regional Office in Cagayan Valley, said a special panel has been formed to probe the incident, which Mamba claims was staged by a political rival of their family.

“We have organized a special investigation task force on the matter,” De Gracia said in press conference Wednesday.

“We turned over the investigation proper to the CIDG provincial commander,” he added.

Last Monday, unidentified gunmen fired at Mamba’s convoy in Barangay Centro Norte in Alcala town at around 2 p.m. No one was hurt during the ambush.

An empty bullet shell and three slugs of still unknown gun caliber were recovered from the crime scene.

Mamba claimed incumbent Cagayan Gov. Alvaro Antonio was among those who attacked the four vehicle convoy.  Antonio, however, denied Mamba’s allegations, saying he was at home when the incident happened.

Mamba's brother, William, ran under the Liberal Party against Antonio who is allied with the United Nationalist Alliance.

De Gracia said they have yet to find evidence directly linking Antonio to the attack.

“We cannot find anyone who can give a statement,” de Gracia said.

“We will be relying on the statement of the good secretary and it will serve as the basis for the complaint,” he added. – with B. Beltran