PRO-6: Killings are not state-sponsored

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Almost all killings involving motorcycle-riding suspects (MRS), and even four-wheeled vehicle assailants, are never placed in the back burner.

Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, also said such killings should not be considered as state-sponsored.

“We are investigating these cases and we couldn’t come up with definite answers that these are state-sponsored,” Pamuspusan said.

Pamuspusan asserted that they have no information or proof that state forces are behind these daring killings.

The region’s top cop stressed that PNP chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa reiterated that the PNP will not condone such actuations.

“There was no instruction to do these unacceptable procedures in neutralizing drug suspects,” Pamuspusan said, referring to observations that most of victims of these unsolved killings were involved in illegal drugs.

He noted that the PNP has progressed a lot as an institution, especially when it comes to respecting human rights.

After the twin murders in Iloilo City on Sunday, Pamuspusan said he called Police Colonel Martin Defensor Jr., director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).

“I immediately gave him the instruction to immediately solve the cases. As far as Colonel Defensor is concerned, the Investigation is already going on “he said.

“And I told him, I expect results.”

Still, Pamuspusan believed that the murder of Alain Muller and Delfin Britanico are isolated cases and won’t affect the security preparations for Dinagyang Festival.

“We can’t make any generalization… There are several speculations about the suspects transforming from the usual mode of getaway vehicles – from motorcycles to four-wheel vehicles. But these are cases that need further investigation before we could come up with any speculations,” he said.

Pamuspusan admitted, though, that solving these daring murders has been a challenge for the PNP.

“We recently had long discussions over this in Camp Crame, especially on killings involving motorcycle-rising suspects,” he added.

Pamuspusan said the murders have the elements of surprise and treachery, which are also factor in other killings in other parts of the country.

“But rest assured that these are being looked into. We hope to come out with results soon,” he said.