DOJ exec-newsman shot dead in Abra

By MydsSupnad

BANGUED, Abra – A police task force is now investigating the killing of an official of the Department of Justice who was also a former newsman who was shot dead Wednesday afternoon here along the busy street in Zone 5, Cordillera police director Senior Supt. Isagani Nerez said.

Senior Supt. Virgilio Laya, Abra police director in a report to the regional police office in Camp Dangwa, Benguet said, Jacinto “Jack” Torqueza, administrative officer of the Prosecutor's Office was ambushed by gunmen using Cal. 45, handgun with a silencer in front of Mike’s Department Store in Zone 5.

He died on the spot due to five gunshot wounds.

Torqueza, 47, was formerly contributing news to Manila Bulletin and anchorman of DZPA radio.

Initial investigation conducted by Bangued police disclosed that prior to the incident, the victim attended the birthday party of Atty. Marcelo Ortega in Barikir, Zone 5. 

At about 6 p.m. Wednesday, he fetched his wife from her work at Dept. of Agrarian Reform office at Zone 4 using his colored green and black Kawasaki ZX 130 motorcycle bearing plate number AF 6475. 

However, police said having left his cellphone at the house of Ortega, he went back to the place of celebration at about 6:15 p.m.

Laya said at about 6:25 p.m. while he was traversing Taft Street in Zone 5, he was shot several times by the suspect/s from the back. 

The victim sustained two gunshot wounds on his right side, one on his right hand and two on his spinal cord. 

The victim was rushed to Seares Memorial Hospital by responding police for medical treatment but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician. 

Suspect fled to unknown direction after the incident. 

Police said there was a possibility the victim was shot at a close range as evidenced by gun powder burns on his back.

An interview by police with a security guard of Mike’s Super Store, bared the latter did not hear gun fire.

He only noticed that the victim crashed on the pavement not knowing that he was shot. 

Police recovered three fired cartridge cases for Cal. 45 from the crime scene.

Motive has yet to be determined as investigation is still ongoing.

Nerez created Thursday Task Force “Turqueza,” following the murder of  Turqueza, an employee of the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Abra.

Nerez will be sending additional troops to the province to help in the maintenance of the peace and order and security in the area.

 “We have created a Special Investigation Task Group we dubbed as Task Force Turqueza to handle the focused and intensified investigation into the shooting death of Jacinto Turqueza last Wednesday,” said Nerez, adding he will be sending one company from the Regional Public Safety Battalion to augment the provincial police force.

“The additional manpower will form the Anti-Crime Task Group, which will assume the functions of the defunct Task Force Abra, which was deactivated only last year,” Nerez said.

He has designated Police Senior Supt. Albertito Garcia as task group commander, with Supt. Mark Pespes, deputy commander of the RPSB, as ground commander of the anti-crime task group.

Nerez said he intends to form the Anti-Crime Task Group to replace the defunct Task Force Abra, which was created purposely to go after private armed groups, gun-for-hire syndicates and other organized crime groups, which are all actively engaged in various criminal activities in Abra.

Task Force Abra, which has been in existence for more than a decade, has been credited for the improved peace and order situation in the province, particularly in the conduct of peaceful and orderly elections because of its effective anti-crime operations that saw the dismantling of private armed groups operating in the area. -- With reports by Myds Supnad and Mar Supnad