CABANATUAN CITY — Motorcycle-riding assassins on Friday night shot dead two anti-narcotics operatives having drinks in a house in this city.

Acting Nueva Ecija Provincial Police head Col. Rhoderick Campo identified the slain lawmen as Staff Sergeants Allan Capinpin, 43, and Aries Dichoso, 39, of Purok 5, Bgy. Bantug Norte.

Capinpin and Dichoso were both assigned to the Cabanatuan City Police Drug Enforcement Section.

Police found the two victims dead after responding to a gun attack at Capinpin’s house at Anthurium St., Bgy. Magsaysay Sur at 10:30 p.m. on Friday.

In a case conference yesterday morning, Campo told the Journal Group that a Special Investigation Task Group was immediately formed to investigate the twin killings.

Campo said they have yet to determine any possible motives for the shooting as no witnesses have surfaced yet to help in the investigation.

Probers said the two cops were having a drinking spree when an armed man barged inside the house and without provocation repeatedly shot the victims.

The gunman fled on a motorcycle driven by a cohort.

ELEAZAR ORDERS PROBE

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar yesterday ordered a thorough investigation into the murder of Capinpin and Dichoso.

“I already ordered the RD (regional director), PRO3 (Police Regional Office 3) to conduct a thorough investigation of this incident, which resulted in the death of our two personnel. Part of the investigation is to determine the motive and the immediate identification of all people behind this,” said the top cop.

“On behalf of the men and women of the PNP, ipinapaabot ko ang aking pakikiramay sa mga naulila nina Police Staff Sergeants Allan Capinpin at Aries Dichoso. Makakaasa ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay ng aming aksyon para mabigyan sila ng hustisya,” Eleazar said.

Officials said they are looking into a number of motives, including the possibility it could be work-related.

Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon said the local police immediately launched a dragnet to get the killers.

As of press time, investigators are searching for potential witnesses to the killing and reviewing CCTV footage in the area as part of their effort to identify the suspects and their getaway motorcycle. With Alfred Dalizon