Panel to probe Clark airport engineer’s slay

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – A special investigation task group (SITG) has been formed by the Central Luzon police office to investigate the murder of the chief engineer of the Clark International Airport (CIA).

Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, director of the Police Regional Office 3, said he ordered Tarlac police chief Senior Superintendent Alex Sintin to lead SITG Angeles as the police remained clueless on the identities of the persons who killed Ruel Angeles, 55, in Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac last Monday.

Angeles’ wife Crusenia, 56, was wounded in the incident while their four-year-old grandson was unhurt.

Sintin said that as of yesterday, they have yet to find any lead on the killing. He said one of the assailants used a .45 caliber pistol in shooting Angeles.

The killing occurred amid issues involving the bidding for a P250-million instrument landing system (ILS) being handled by Angeles’ office.

Sintin said probers are looking into other angles, citing reports that Angeles was into cockfighting.

Clark International Airport Corp. president and chief executive officer Emigdio Tanjuatco said he ordered all CIAC personnel to cooperate with investigators.

Personnel at the airport’s engineering department said they were not aware of any threat to Angeles’ life.

Tanjuatco referred queries on the ILS bidding to the CIAC bids and awards committee, headed by Darwin Cunanan. Angeles was a member of the committee.