ANGELES CITY – Amid rising number of killings of foreigners, this city’s police chief said yesterday the movement of some 200 U.S. servicemen expected here for joint RP-US military exercises this April would be limited to their former Clark military base and SM-City mall near the freeport’s main gate.
This, even as Mayor Francis Nepomuceno appealed yesterday to witnesses to come out and help solve the recent killings victimizing both foreigners and locals.
City police director Senior Supt. Pierre Bucsit said he and Nepomuceno have organized an anti-crime caravan tomorrow to encourage city folk to help curb crimes here.
At a press conference yesterday, Bucsit said some 200 U.S. servicemen are set to arrive at Clark freeport for the joint US-RP Balikatan military exercises to be held in Central Luzon, the Bicol region, Cavite and Zamboanga City starting April 16.
The holding of Balikatan exercises in these areas was earlier announced by Armed Forces Public Information Office (PIO) chief Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres Jr. who said that this year’s event will be “structured to further develop the capability” of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in crisis action planning and natural disaster preparedness, in counterterrorism operations, and in the interoperability with US forces.
Bucsit said that “they (Balikatan officials) have coordinated with our local police station commanders who have decided to limit their (U.S. servicemen’s) movements to Clark and SM mall”, noting that some of the U.S. military men have already arrived at Clark to prepare for the joint military exercises.
Asked what threat the U.S. military men are facing in this city, Bucsit cited “street crimes”.
Only last Thursday, American tourist Jerry Melton, 51, was shot dead by still unidentified suspects in Barangay Balibago here. Melton arrived in the country two days earlier.
Melton was the second foreigner to be killed in this city and the fifth to be murdered since last December. Only last January, a German tourist was also found dead in his apartment in Barangay Plaridel I here.
Meanwhile, Bucsit announced during the press conference that the suspects have been identified in the fatal shooting last week of Barangay Pulung Maragul chief Edilberto Cayanan.
He showed media a police rogue gallery photo of suspect Harrison de Leon, but he did not identify another cohort and the alleged mastermind whom he noted to be an “ex-barangay official” pending the filing of formal charges against them anytime today. The suspects have remained at large.
Bucsit said that De Leon has one murder record and is reportedly a member of a gun-for-hire syndicate based in Eastern Pampanga. One source from city hall said the suspect is now holed up in his hideout in Arayat town.
He also cited the theory of police probers that the same gun-for-hire group could be responsible for the killing of Joven Deala, half brother of Black Eyed Peas singer Allan Pineda known to his fans as Apl.de.ap. Deala was killed early morning in Barangay Ninoy Aquino last Feb. 3.
This, even as Mayor Francis Nepomuceno appealed yesterday to witnesses to come out and help solve the recent killings victimizing both foreigners and locals.
City police director Senior Supt. Pierre Bucsit said he and Nepomuceno have organized an anti-crime caravan tomorrow to encourage city folk to help curb crimes here.
At a press conference yesterday, Bucsit said some 200 U.S. servicemen are set to arrive at Clark freeport for the joint US-RP Balikatan military exercises to be held in Central Luzon, the Bicol region, Cavite and Zamboanga City starting April 16.
The holding of Balikatan exercises in these areas was earlier announced by Armed Forces Public Information Office (PIO) chief Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres Jr. who said that this year’s event will be “structured to further develop the capability” of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in crisis action planning and natural disaster preparedness, in counterterrorism operations, and in the interoperability with US forces.
Bucsit said that “they (Balikatan officials) have coordinated with our local police station commanders who have decided to limit their (U.S. servicemen’s) movements to Clark and SM mall”, noting that some of the U.S. military men have already arrived at Clark to prepare for the joint military exercises.
Asked what threat the U.S. military men are facing in this city, Bucsit cited “street crimes”.
Only last Thursday, American tourist Jerry Melton, 51, was shot dead by still unidentified suspects in Barangay Balibago here. Melton arrived in the country two days earlier.
Melton was the second foreigner to be killed in this city and the fifth to be murdered since last December. Only last January, a German tourist was also found dead in his apartment in Barangay Plaridel I here.
Meanwhile, Bucsit announced during the press conference that the suspects have been identified in the fatal shooting last week of Barangay Pulung Maragul chief Edilberto Cayanan.
He showed media a police rogue gallery photo of suspect Harrison de Leon, but he did not identify another cohort and the alleged mastermind whom he noted to be an “ex-barangay official” pending the filing of formal charges against them anytime today. The suspects have remained at large.
Bucsit said that De Leon has one murder record and is reportedly a member of a gun-for-hire syndicate based in Eastern Pampanga. One source from city hall said the suspect is now holed up in his hideout in Arayat town.
He also cited the theory of police probers that the same gun-for-hire group could be responsible for the killing of Joven Deala, half brother of Black Eyed Peas singer Allan Pineda known to his fans as Apl.de.ap. Deala was killed early morning in Barangay Ninoy Aquino last Feb. 3.
