Sketch of suspect in NCMH chief’s ambush released

MANILA, Philippines — Police released yesterday a sketch of one of the suspects in the killing of National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) director Roland Cortez in Quezon City.

Maj. Elmer Monsalve, who heads the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU), said the sketch was based on witness descriptions.

The suspect is a man around 5’4” to 5’5” tall and between 30 and 40 years old, he said.

Based on their investigation, Monsalve said the suspect was the spotter or lookout,  monitoring Cortez’s movements five days before the official was ambushed last Monday.

“We are not discounting the possibility that he was also the gunman as he was familiar with the place,” he said in a phone interview.

The QCPD has formed a special investigation task group that will look into Cortez’s murder.

Cortez and his driver, Ernesto dela Cruz, were in a car when they were attacked at the corner of Casanova Drive and Tandang Sora Avenue in Barangay Culiat.

Cortez had just left his house and was on his  way to work in Mandaluyong City when he and his driver were waylaid.

Probers are not discounting the possibility the killing is related to Cortez’s work.

Last April, Cortez denied allegations that he and other NCMH officials were covering up the number of COVID-19 cases in the facility. He said they regularly submitted reports to the Department of Health.