GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Police Regional Office (PRO)-12 has created a special task force that will lead the investigation into the gun attack at a restaurant in Polomolok town in South Cotabato late Tuesday night that killed four people, including the town’s deputy chief of police.
Chief Supt. Cedrick Train, Region 12 police director, said Thursday the move is aimed to ensure more focused investigation and speed up the resolution of the case, which was believed related to illegal drugs.
He said he issued “marching orders” to the task force to dig deeper into the incident and gather the necessary pieces of evidence against possible suspects.
“We are very saddened by the incident, but rest assured that we will do everything to resolve this, identify the gunmen and the masterminds,” he said in an interview over radio station Brigada News FM.
Polomolok deputy police chief, Sr. Insp. Hernan Gabat and his two companions have just arrived at the Mang Ephoy Lechon House along the national highway in Purok Pag-asa, Barangay Magsaysay at around 11:50 p.m. when "sudden bursts of gunfire" came towards their direction.
The 48-year-old Gabat, who was hit on the left side of his body, was declared dead upon arrival at the Howard Hubbard Memorial Hospital in Polomolok.
His companion Rio Salig Sr. and customer Karl Plomillo sustained gunshot wounds on the body and died while being treated at the Polomolok Municipal Hospital and the Howard Hubbard Memorial Hospital, respectively.
One of the five customers who were listed as wounded, Jade Silva, died at around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday while undergoing treatment at the Jorge P. Royeca Hospital here.
Chief Insp. Aldrin Gonzales, Polomolok police chief, said the circumstances of the incident showed that it was planned and Gabat was the main target.
He said they are looking at the attack as possibly "work-related" as Gabat was also the police station's intelligence officer.
Sr. Supt. Franklin Alvero, South Cotabato police director, said they are already looking at several criminal groups, especially those involved in the illegal drug trade, as possibly behind the attack.
He said these groups are operating in this city, Polomolok and other parts of South Cotabato province.
“We’re initially looking at this as drug-related since he (Gabat) spearheaded various successful operations these past months,” he said.
The police official said he ordered their investigators to look into the possible links of the attack to the recent cases of gun-related murders in the area.(PNA)
* Stay at Home and START YOUR OWN blog site, business or personal website, or e-commerce store at
www.wirenine.comLinkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=110730.0
