Cops axed over lapses in village exec slay case

SAN LEONARDO, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – The police officers of a community precinct here were removed from their posts for alleged lapses in their response to a barangay chairman’s murder.

Senior Superintendent Crizaldo Nieves replaced the police officers in Barangay San Bartolome amid complaints that they failed to respond to the killing of barangay chairman Rodante Garcia.

The village leader was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men in front of his house, which is 50 meters away from the police community precinct last Sept. 5.

Nieves said he has ordered Chief Inspector Alexander Aurelio, chief of the municipal police, to solve the murder in three weeks.

Police have yet to determine the motive for the killing.