Cops probe prison officer murders

MANILA, Philippines — The Muntinlupa City police has started its investigation to identify the assailants who shot dead an official of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Monday, an official said yesterday.

Investigators are “cross matching” all the details in the killing of Chief Inspector Angelito Padilla with two other murders of prison officers in the city, according to Senior Superintendent Gerardo Umayao, city police chief.

Padilla was driving his vehicle when motorcycle-riding assailants shot him along Katihan street in Barangay Poblacion. He was declared dead on arrival at Medical Center Muntinlupa.

Inspector Rommel Reyes of the BuCor’s Reservation Security Service was riding his motorcycle within the prison complex when motorcycle-riding assailants shot him while Inspector Nimencio San Gabriel was ambushed in October this year.

Umayao said they are checking if “one gun was used to kill them. We are also coordinating with the BuCor  to determine the possible motives.”

Neither BuCor chief Nicanor Faeldon nor his spokesman Sonny del Rosario was available for comment. 

Umayao said Padilla was attacked outside the BuCor compound as they have beefed up security measures in the area following the killing of the two other prison officers.