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Special task groups formed to probe 2 ambush incidents

By Gina Peralta-Elorde and Mina Diaz

03/13/2009

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director Gen. Jesus Verzosa yesterday issued an order for the creation of special investigation task groups from the Manila Police District (MPD) and the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) that will focus their efforts on the investigation of the recent ambush incidents involving two government officials.

National Capital Region Police Office spokesman Supt. Rommel Miranda said the order issued by the PNP chief was relayed by NCRPO chief Director Leopoldo Bataoil to MPD director Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales and QCPD director Chief Supt. Magtanggol Gatdula.

Police authorities said the creation of the special task groups was prompted by a statement from Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. asking President Arroyo to resign from her post for her alleged failure to ensure the safety of the residents in the country following the series of violence that happened in Metro Manila area.

Last Tuesday, Camilo Guarin, 61, assistant regional director of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) National Capital Region (NCR), and his driver Roman Zuniga were ambushed by a group of still unidentified armed men while on board a Mitsubishi Adventure along Doña Juliana Street, Doña Carmen Subdivision, Quezon City.

Guarin sustained two bullet wounds in the chest and near the groin while his driver survived the ambush unscathed, police reports said.

The next day, Undersecretary Ramon Aquino of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and his two companions were seriously wounded when they were attacked by gun-wielding men while leaving their office on board a Toyota Fortuner (ZDW-319) around 3:15 p.m.

Two other persons who were also wounded in the ambush were Victor Salonga and Tony Calareta, driver and Aquino’s bodyguard, respectively.

Aquino sustained a bullet wound in the right side of his body while Calareta bore a bullet wound in the face, police authorities said.

Reports also said a bullet grazed Salonga’s right cheek.

Miranda said Verzosa required the MPD and QCPD authorities to submit progress reports on the follow-up operations concerning the two ambush cases to the PNP Tactical Operations Center and National Operations Center in a bid to establish the identities of the gunmen and immediately effect their arrest.

If a need arises, officials of the special task groups will have to submit progress reports on the two cases twice a day, Miranda added.

He said there is no reason for Metro Manilans to panic since the PNP remains on top of the situation and that the peace and order is still under control by authorities.

Meanwhile, security at the DPWH was tightened a day after the ambush of Aquino in front of the department’s main office on Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila.

DPWH security guards, who were only armed with nightsticks before the incident, are now issued shotguns and small firearms to secure the surroundings from criminal elements.

Only recently, burglars managed to sneak inside the offices of secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and Undersecretary Bashir Rasuman and took away two laptops, a cellular phone and a .45 cal. pistol. No money or important documents were taken by the suspects.

Two security guards who were manning the front gate of the DPWH main office reportedly ran away after hearing gunshots fired by the suspects at the vehicle of Aquino which was leaving the department’s compound.

The two security personnel had no firearms at that time and had no option but to save themselves first.

Public Works officials already requested the PNP to deploy uniformed policemen in the DPWH compound to assist its security personnel in keeping the area safe and secured.

Police investigators claimed they already uncovered some leads that would reveal the mastermind behind the ambush of Aquino but declined to disclose the details while the investigation is ongoing.

Investigators said they will invite some private contractors and officials of the DPWH regarding the ambush that also wounded the bodyguard of Aquino and his driver.

A reliable source at the department said power struggle among ranking officials is also being looked into as possible motive behind the attack but the strongest motive appeared to be the awarding of multimillion-peso infrastructure projects to favored contractors.