Task force to probe Cavite prosecutor’s slay

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — A special investigation task force was formed yesterday to look into the killing of deputy prosecutor Edilbert Mendoza in Cavite on Friday.

Brig. Gen. Eliseo Cruz, Calabarzon police director, said regional deputy director for operations Col. Gerardo Umayao and Col. Edwin Quilates, chief of the regional staff, would lead the probe with the support of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, intelligence unit led by Col. Noel Nu–ez and Col. Arnold Abad, Cavite police chief.

Abad said a land dispute, a grudge and Mendoza’s work are among those being eyed as motives for the killing.

”We are still gathering evidence, including the testimonies of the family, close relatives and a police officer, a brother of the victim. We have only the footage of closed-circuit television cameras, which caught the gunman before and after the attack,” Abad told The STAR.

He said the task force has no person of interest at this time as probers said the assailant could be a contract killer.

The gun attack occurred in Barangay Cabuco at around 7:38 a.m., according to a police report.

Mendoza was exercising in front of his house when the suspect appeared from behind and shot him in the head. The prosecutor died at the scene.