Drugs eyed behind murder of sacked cop

CEBU, Philippines —  A police officer who was shot dead by riding-in-tandem in Barangay Labangon was allegedly involved in illegal drug activities, investigation of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) revealed.

CCPO deputy city director for operations Wilbert Parilla said Police Corporal Rodel Demaangay, 40, was reassigned to Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office then to Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) from Cebu City due to his illicit drug activities.

“His last reassignment was in 2018. He was involved in illegal drug activities when he was still in the service based on our investigation,” he said.

With this, the police are now leaning their investigation towards drugs as the motive of the killing.

Demaangay was killed when he was shot by men on board two motorcycles in Sitio Bliss, Barangay Labangon past 3 p.m. Monday.

The shooting took place just a few steps from the Labangon Police Station and a stone’s throw from the officer’s ancestral house.

Dismissed

Also, the investigation revealed that he was dismissed from service for grave misconduct.

Demaangay was sacked after he was found guilty of three counts of the administrative offense of grave misconduct. His dismissal order took effect on June, 25, 2020.

He was assigned in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

“We have documents showing that he was dismissed in his last assignment (ARMM) for three counts of grave misconduct,” said Parilla.

Parilla said they are still looking into Demaangay’s background to gather more information and to help solve the murder case. — KQD (FREEMAN)