Task force probes slay of Ilocos Norte cop

By John Michael Mugas

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—The Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Office formed a special investigation task force now probing slay of a police officer in Dingras town in this province on Oct. 13.
    In a statement, Col. Julius Suriben, provincial director, vowed to bring justice for slain Staff Sergeant Jackson Raymundo, 36, an intelligence operative.
    “We strongly condemn this incident,” said Suriben, as he urged the perpetrators of the crime to surrender as the provincial police force would “exhaust all means to bring justice to our comrade.”
    He also asked the public to provide information that could lead to a speedy resolution of the case.
    At 2:40 a.m. on Oct. 13, Dingras police station received information from a woman and resident of Dingras town that Raymundo had been shot.
    Responding to the call, police found Raymundo’s car at an irrigation canal in the middle of farmland in Saludares village, according to Maj. Julius Bassalo, Dingras police station chief.
    Police said they found Raymundo’s body stuffed inside the car’s compartment.
    He was half-naked and was drowning in his own blood after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.
    It was also possible that Raymundo was physically assaulted as he suffered black eyes before he was gunned down, police said.
    Responding authorities took the victim to the nearby Dingras District Hospital.
    He was transferred to the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City but died while being treated, the police said.
    Bassalo earlier reported it that Raymundo’s service firearm was also missing.
    The police said the task force had already processed the crime scene and a trajectory examination had already been conducted.
    Raymundo’s car had multiple bullet holes on its windshield and hood, the police said. INQ