Cops strengthen presence after colleague’s slay

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – The Pontevedra Municipal Police Station in Negros Occidental intensified their police presence in strategic areas in the town following the killing of a cop at the Reclamation area in Barangay 1-Poblacion last Tuesday.

Staff Sergeant Ildefonso Casugod, 37, of Barangay Recreo, an intelligence police officer was gunned down by two unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants while he was talking to Mayor Jose Maria Alonso, who was jogging in the area.

The mayor was unharmed, but he was shocked as he witnessed the shooting.

Captain Hancel Lumandaz, town police chief, said Alonso urged the council to discuss preventive measures to prevent the recurrence of the incident like the installation of additional closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

Lumandaz said frequent patrolling will be conducted, especially in populated areas.

Meanwhile, Lumandaz said that Casugod is a big loss to the town police force.

“Malaking kawalan siya sa intelligence section namin lalo na sa mga accomplishments against drugs, wanted persons,” the town police chief added.

Lumandaz said they are eyeing two angles in the killing – work-related and communist rebel attack – but the case is still under investigation.

“Sa ngayon hindi muna ako makapagsabi talaga pero ang pinakamalapit na tinitingnan namin ay dahil sa pagiging intel niya,” he added.

Lumandaz said they already have witnesses which can help them in the investigation.

He said the killing was planned and might be done by a professional gunman.

“Planado eh, kasi malapit sa exit kung saan siya binaril at close range. Tinawag pa siya then paglingon binaril sa ulo,” he added.

Casugod succumbed to a lone gunshot wound in the head.

“We’re trying our best to solve the case,” Lumandaz said.