PNP urged to probe barangay chairman’s murder

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police should dig deeper to determine why Barangay 183, Caloocan chairman Pedro Ramirez was killed, Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas president Edmund Abesamis said yesterday.

Ramirez was gunned down by motorcycle-riding men in front of a hardware store in Caloocan Tuesday morning.

Abesamis said Ramirez’s murder is not the first that happened in Caloocan.

On March 2, Barangay 163 chairman Alejandro Bonifacio was slain by two men riding a motorcycle in Baesa.

Last Saturday, Barangay 187 kagawad (councilman) Luisito Banzon was ambushed by two men on motorcycle. He is currently confined at the Dr. Jose Rodriguez Hospital.

Abesamis said the killing of barangay officials in the city has reached alarming proportions and the PNP should step up its checkpoint operation to deter criminals.

Superintendent Ferdinand del Rosario of the Caloocan police investigation division told The STAR that probers have a suspect “but would not divulge information because it might pre-empt the ongoing operation.”

A source said Ramirez could have been involved in a land dispute with illegal settlers in his barangay “and it could be the reason why he was silenced.”