Slain cop in Tarlac earlier probed for drug links, kotong
A 38-YEAR-OLD member of the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (PNP-AVS) shot dead by three unidentified gunmen in Capas, Tarlac on Tuesday morning turned out to have bren previously investigated for his alleged involvement in extortion and illegal drug activities, a Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) report said.
PRO3 director, Brigadier General Valeriano T. de Leon said the victim identified as Staff Sergeant Michael Maun used to be assigned at the Bamban Municipal Police Station in Tarlac and was the subject of intelligence reports regarding his alleged involvement in illegal drugs and extortion activities in Capas and Concepcion municipalities.
De Leon said the gunmen’s getaway vehicle, a black Toyota Altis with the attached plate number ZEW-568, was abandoned by the killers in Sitio Baloy in Barangay Arangoren in Capas shortly after the attack.
He added that verification with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) showed that the plate no. ZEW-568 was originally issued to a black Toyota Vios registered under the name of a woman residing in San Fernando City, Pampanga.
Investigators are still conducting follow-up operations to determine how the Vios plate ended up attached to the killers’ getaway car.
The PNP-ASG member stationed at the Clark International Airport was gunned down 7:25 a.m. Tuesday. An investigation showed the cop was on board his Toyota Altis when shot without any provocation by the suspects in front of the victim’s residence on Block 10, Lot 70 in Barangay Cristo Rey in Capas.
The killers were described as all of medium built and all approximately 5’6” to 5’7” in height. One was claad in white t-shirt and a pair of ‘maong’ shorts while the other wore a black t-shirt and ‘maong’ shorts. The 3rd acted as the driver of their getaway car.
The victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the body and died while being taken to a local hospital.
Investigators recovered 13 spent caliber .45 cartridges, 23 spent 9mm casings, 8 fired cal. .45 bullets and 2 live 9mm ammunition at the scene.
Shortly after the incident, the Tarlac Police Provincial Office launched a dragnet to arrest the killers to no avail. However, the Capas police and the Tarlac PPO are talking to possible witnesses who saw the gunmen as they abandoned their getaway Altis and possibly transferred to another vehicle.
