Police said Wednesday that the shooting of Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, who killed the mayor and 2 others, was not an ambush.
Although Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen Debold Sinas admitted that he had only received an initial report, he believed that the police had just “mistaken” Aquino’s camp.
“As initial report po ng RD (regional director) ng PRO 8 (police regional office 8) accordingly napagkamalan ng security ng mayor ‘yung sasakyan na sumabay sa kanila ay akala nila, nagtamang duda sila na sinusundan sila. So according to them without apparent reason binaril ‘yung sasakyan nila. So napilitan sila ngayon mag-responde,” Sinas explained.
Six were killed, including a civilian.
Mayor Ronaldo Aquino
Police Senior Sgt. Rodio Sario (Aquino’s Security)
Dennis Abayon (Aquino’s Driver)
Police Capt. Joselito Tabada
Police Senior Sgt. Romeo Laoyon
Clint John Paul Yauder (Civilian)
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will also help, according to Sinas.
But the Calbayog mayor’s camp opposed PNP’s claims.
PNP insists Calbayog mayor dies in encounter, not ambush
Samar Rep. Edgar Sarmiento reiterated that the ambush took place especially with the viral video today on social media.
“Ang pinakamagandang ebidensiya ang mga videos po na naglalabasan. Sabihin na natin na unang pumutok si Mayor, natatawa po tayo, tingnan niyo na lang patay na ang mayor may lumapit pa binaril pa mismo, binalikan,” said Sarmiento.
“Kung walang intensiyon, sabihin na natin misfire po ito, hindi nila alam na si mayor, ang unang gagawin po ng pulis, tutulungan po si mayor, dadalhin po sa ospital,” he added.
Aquino was traveling when the shooting happened at the Laboyao Bridge in Brgy. Lonoy around 5:30 p.m.
Based on preliminary information from the PNP, the Calbayog mayor’s group first opened fire on the vehicle of the policemen who allegedly just passed by.
Sarmiento expressed doubt about the police handling the investigation.
He compared the death of the Calbayog mayor to the shooting encounter between the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Quezon City cops.
“Parang hindi ako maniniwala diyan, kagaya din ng ginawa sa Manila ‘yan kung saan nagcreate ng Board of Inquiry ang PDEA at ang Philippine National Police…” Sarmiento said