Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde revealed this morning that the cop who was gunned down in broad daylight in EDSA Connecticut yesterday was included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s first narco-list, but was later cleared of any wrongdoing.
Albayalde said this to reporters at a press conference today at Camp Crame in Cubao, Quezon City.
The policeman killed was identified by The Philippine Daily Inquirer as Police Senior Master Sergeant Solomon Cugay. He was on board his motorcycle when he was shot along EDSA’s southbound lane at 3:31pm.
He was shot multiple times and cops found seven bullet cases in the crime scene, according to Rappler. It’s unclear how many assailants there were.
Albayalde said Cugay, who worked in the police force for more than 15 years, was included in Duterte’s 2016 narco list because authorities received reports that he was coddling drug suspects, reported Manila Bulletin. Cugay was also accused of selling drugs which were allegedly confiscated from police operations, reported GMA News.
The narco list includes people who are suspected to be involved in the illegal drug trade.
However, Albayalde said that Cugay had been cleared of committing the accusations.
“[H]e was already adjudicated and cleared when after two years, investigators found no proof of his involvement in illegal drug activities. But it was true he was in the list,” Albayalde said.
Albayalde wondered how Cugay was killed when his location was less than a kilometer away from Camp Crame, the PNP’s national headquarters, CNN Philippines reported. He said a police patrol car is always parked near the camp.
“A San Juan patrol car is always there. I don’t know if that patrol car was there or not [when Cugay was shot],” said Albayalde.
The police chief said that the motive behind the killing remains unknown, reported SunStar Manila.
The PNP’s Eastern Police District has created a task force that’s investigating the shooting. Albayalde also said they are not sure if the crime was related to drugs.
“The motive behind his shooting, nothing is clear yet. It’s still being investigated,” Albayalde said.
