Laguna police chief relieved for lying

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Philippines —  Police Regional Office CALABARZON Director Chief Superintendent Mao Aplasca has ordered the relief of Alaminos town police chief for allegedly giving false information on an alleged police encounter last Sunday afternoon.

 

Aplasca directed Laguna provincial director Senior Superintendent Cecilio Ison to relieve Alaminos police chief Senior Inspector Julimar Seloterio in connection with the killing of intelligence officer PO3 Eduardo Cruz.

 

Last Sunday afternoon, Seloterio reportedly informed Ison and the media that PO3 Cruz was gunned down by armed men while having intelligence gathering in Alaminos.

 

Moments later, Jonald Luna, a dismissed Marine who was wounded in the gunfight, Carl Lester Catungal of the Air Force in San Carlos City were arrested in a police checkpoint while his alleged cohort Jim Noel Opena escaped 

According to an earlier reports from Seloterio, PO3 Cruz was killed in a  shootout with the suspects, who were tagged as members of a gunrunning syndicate.

PO3 Cruz was declared dead on arrival at San Pablo City Medical Center from gunshot wounds in the chest.

However, in a follow-up investigation, Seloterio admitted that the case was just a simple traffic altercation that led to a shooting incident.

Seloterio said the group of PO3 Cruz, who came from a team building activity, were allegedly intoxicated when they caught up with the suspects while onboard a Mitsubishi Adventure (VDV 283) in Del Pilar St. Barangay 1, Poblacion, Alaminos.

Police also said that the suspects were not members of a gun-for-hire group as earlier reported but close-in security men of a known local politician.

Police recovered an M-14 armalite rifle and a Baretta 9mm pistol and bullets from the suspects.