TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija – The chief of police of this first class municipality was reportedly shot to death by his drunken deputy right in front of the police station in the vicinity of the town hall at about 8:55 p.m. on Saturday.
Senior Supt. Roberto Aliggayu, director of the Nueva Ecija police provincial office (NEPPO), identified the victim as Supt. Ricardo Dayag, Jr., 47, while the suspect was Inspector Bernardo Castro, deputy police chief here.
Investigation showed that Dayag, who was on his New Year’s off having served during Christmas day, fetched his family from their hometown in Tuguegarao, Cagayan for a trip to Pampanga. They dropped by the police station at passed 8:00 p.m.
Castro who was the assigned officer of the day was not around that time. Investigation also showed that two gunshots were heard near the station, prompting Dayag to go out and check.
While on his way out, he saw Castro and asked: “Sinong nagpaputok?”
He saw Castro carrying his gun and asked the latter to surrender his service pistol. “Akina yang baril mo, ibigay mo sa akin ang baril mo,” the report quoted Dayag as saying.
However, Castro allegedly fired his gun instead that initially hit Dayag’s foot. He then fired successively until the magazine of his .9mm pistol was empty.
Aliggayu said Dayag was unarmed when the incident happened. “It was only Castro who fired shots. The other policemen have scampered,” Aliggayu said.
Castro then hid on a row of vehicles, including his own car and an ambulance parked against the wall of the municipal hall for at least half an hour until Aliggayu arrived and negotiated for his surrender.
Castro yielded at about 9:30 p.m. which gave way for the responding policemen from the provincial peace and security forces and the provincial headquarters to search for the murder weapon.
The gun was recovered under the ambulance about 30 minutes after Castro was held by authorities inside the station.
“He (Castro) was drunk,” said Aliggayu but could not say other possible motive of the suspect in killing Dayag.
He said Castro refused to talk about what happened. “He knows his right not to talk.”
The suspect was brought to the Police Special Reaction Team custodial cell in Cabanatuan City as administrative and criminal charges are being prepared against him.
Lilia Dayag, 46, the victim’s wife, said she only has to accept what happened.
“That’s all I can say, and we have to accept it,” she said.
Lilia added that her husband was in high spirit for the short leave which he can spend with his family. The victim has five children, and the eldest is a first year law student.
Senior Supt. Roberto Aliggayu, director of the Nueva Ecija police provincial office (NEPPO), identified the victim as Supt. Ricardo Dayag, Jr., 47, while the suspect was Inspector Bernardo Castro, deputy police chief here.
Investigation showed that Dayag, who was on his New Year’s off having served during Christmas day, fetched his family from their hometown in Tuguegarao, Cagayan for a trip to Pampanga. They dropped by the police station at passed 8:00 p.m.
Castro who was the assigned officer of the day was not around that time. Investigation also showed that two gunshots were heard near the station, prompting Dayag to go out and check.
While on his way out, he saw Castro and asked: “Sinong nagpaputok?”
He saw Castro carrying his gun and asked the latter to surrender his service pistol. “Akina yang baril mo, ibigay mo sa akin ang baril mo,” the report quoted Dayag as saying.
However, Castro allegedly fired his gun instead that initially hit Dayag’s foot. He then fired successively until the magazine of his .9mm pistol was empty.
Aliggayu said Dayag was unarmed when the incident happened. “It was only Castro who fired shots. The other policemen have scampered,” Aliggayu said.
Castro then hid on a row of vehicles, including his own car and an ambulance parked against the wall of the municipal hall for at least half an hour until Aliggayu arrived and negotiated for his surrender.
Castro yielded at about 9:30 p.m. which gave way for the responding policemen from the provincial peace and security forces and the provincial headquarters to search for the murder weapon.
The gun was recovered under the ambulance about 30 minutes after Castro was held by authorities inside the station.
“He (Castro) was drunk,” said Aliggayu but could not say other possible motive of the suspect in killing Dayag.
He said Castro refused to talk about what happened. “He knows his right not to talk.”
The suspect was brought to the Police Special Reaction Team custodial cell in Cabanatuan City as administrative and criminal charges are being prepared against him.
Lilia Dayag, 46, the victim’s wife, said she only has to accept what happened.
“That’s all I can say, and we have to accept it,” she said.
Lilia added that her husband was in high spirit for the short leave which he can spend with his family. The victim has five children, and the eldest is a first year law student.
