LINGAYEN–An organized crime group suspected of being financed by a “rich and famous” Pangasinense is behind the killing of Mayor Julian Resuello, the police provincial director announced.

Provincial police director, P/Sr. Supt. Perciva Barba, said his command has launched a manhunt for the group, known as the Mendoza crime syndicate, fourteen of whom he identified through cartographic sketches.

Aside from Resuello, who was gunned down in April 2007 while campaigning, the group is also suspected to have killed a senior police officer and an officer of the Land Transportation Office.

The group, believed to have 20 members including a lawyer, is reportedly involved in gun-for-hire, robbery, carnapping, drug pushing and gunrunning not just in Pangasinan.

One of its members has a string of cases and has a P500,000 reward tag on his head.

The lady financier is a government employee of a foreign country.

KILLING THEIR OWN

Barba also said many of the group’s victims are their own members who want out.

Police investigation indicates that the group had killed five people and were involved in four other shooting incidents where victims survived.

The latest of their victim was a certain Sammy Mendoza, a former group member, who was to turn witness for the killing of Resuello, Barba said.

Barba called on the public to help in the manhunt by reporting vital information that could lead to their arrests.

Meanwhile, P/ Supt. David Rapisora, deputy provincial director for operations and Task Force Resuello, said the police have filed an amended complaint last Dec. 3 against the suspects.#

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