The Police Regional Office 3 (PRO 3) has created a special investigation task group to investigate the killing of Ramilito Capistrano, president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in Bulacan province.
“We are exerting all means and all necessary resources will be utilized to get to the bottom of this unfortunate incident as we are now in the process of gathering pieces of evidence that will lead us to the identification of the culprits,” PRO 3 chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said in a statement Friday.
Maranan also assured the families of the victims of its “total commitment” to ensure immediate resolution of the case through proper investigation.
“While we give importance to all cases, this particular incident will be treated as (a) top priority since a local official is involved,’ he added.
Capistrano and his driver Shedrick Suarez were onboard a Mitsubishi Montero when they were shot dead by still unidentified gunmen on Thursday evening along Service Road, Barangay Ligas, Malolos City.
In
a separate phone interview, Maranan said it was still too early to assume that Capistrano’s killing was election-related.
He, meanwhile, directed police officers in the region to enhance police visibility and ensure rapid response capabilities.
‘We have directed our chiefs of police to enhance checkpoint operations and other measures to control the movement of criminal gangs, as well as private armed groups, and of course, we continue to implement search warrants to control loose firearms,” he said.
Philippine National Police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo also supported Maranan’s remarks.
“For now, we cannot categorize it as an election-related incident because we are not yet in the election period. Our election period starts on Jan. 12, (2025),” she said in a press briefing in Camp Crame Friday.
She also said police investigators are looking at the possibility that there could be more than one suspect in the case.
“They are pursuing a very good lead right now and they are confident to say the least na
ma-identify nila yung mga tao (that they would be able to identify the people) behind this murder),” Fajardo said.
Source: Philippines News Agency
