PNP teams track killers of Ilocos judge, treasurer

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – A special investigation task force has been created here to go after killers of a 38-year-old Vigan City judge who was gunned down morning of Oct 4 while waiting for a bus ride in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur where he resided.

Judge Reynaldo Lacasandile of Vigan City Regional Trial Court Branch 20 was shot dead bear a police station with a Cal. 45 pistol in Barangay Lacong, Tagudin town by two men on board a red Honda motorcycle at around 4:45 a.m.

This, as Elpidio Sy, municipal treasurer of Pagudpud town was also shot to death morning of Oct, 4 prompting Ilocos Norte police to create a special team to look into the killing.

At the regional police office in Camp Oscar Florendo, San Fernando, Chief Supt. Orlando Mabutas, Ilocos police director, said the crack police team tasked to look into the killing of Lacasandile is composed of personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Crime Laboratory Service and intelligence and investigation and detective management divisions of the regional and Tagudin police.

Mabutas told a radio interview Tuesday the probe team would look into all possible motives, both personal and work-related, behind Lacasandile’s killing by suspected guns-for-hire.

Senior Supt. Eduardo Dopale, Ilocos Sur police director, said a few days before the killing, suspicious-looking men riding a motorcycle were seen conducting surveillance at the judge’s residence in Barangay Salvacion, Tagudin. “We are still in the process of identifying them through our witnesses.”

Dopale said Lasacandile was declared dead on arrival at a hospital after he was hit by two bullets in his breast from a Cal. 45 pistol.

“Mukhang inabangan tong judge ng dalawang gunmen dahil alam nila na papasok sa trabaho si Judge Lacandile at nagcocommute lang siya.”

Lasacandile was a former prosecutor in Candon City and a a native of Barangay Salvacion in Tagudin.

Dopale said the victim had no companion during the incident. “Iniwan daw ni judge yong motorsiklo niya sa isang pagawaan dito sa Tagudin dahil nasira, at noong nag-aabang na siya ng sasakyan papuntang Vigan ay doon siya binanatan ng mga gunmen, Ang masakit malapit sa sa PNP station and pinagyarihan ng shooting incident.”

The police are looking into the cases handled by the victim.

The twin killings and the fatal shooting of Entong Musa, election officer of Tuburan, Basilan, prompted Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo to strictly enforce the nationwide gun ban in line with the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.

At press time, 192 violators, including nine government officials, four policemen, and two soldiers, were arrested in police checkpoints nationwide. – With a report from Mar Supnad