RISE IN UNSOLVED KILLINGS NOTED

LINGAYEN–The two-strike policy for chiefs of police has been revived in Pangasinan following another spate of unsolved killings perpetrated by unidentified gunmen, many of them are believed to be guns-for-hire and riding in tandem on motorcycles.

Senior Superintendent Rosueto Ricaforte, police provincial director, announced this when he met with the city and town chiefs of police on Wednesday where they plotted out strategies to stop highly mobile criminals who kill targets for a fee.

The two-strike policy for chiefs of police was started by Ricaforte’s predecessor, Senior Superintendent Percival Barba, but was discontinued after he left the post.

The policy means that when two or more unsolved crimes are committed in a certain town or city, the chief of police will be summarily replaced.

More killings were reported in Dagupan City, San Carlos City, Bayambang, Calasiao, Villasis, Malasiqui and Alaminos City since the lifting of the gun ban.

At least four unsolved killings happened in Dagupan City, including that of a widow in Barangay Malued who was killed in the third floor of her house where she was staying alone; and Mark Zabala, son of newsman Dino Zabala, whose body was dumped on San Gabriel Street in Bonuan Boquig after he was killed somewhere in Bonuan Gueset where he lives.

Meanwhile, in Tayug, the killing rampage has stopped after Provincial Board Member Ranjit Shahani initiated a peace dialogue that involved the religious sector in the town.

Ricaforte said that the two-strike policy will ensure that the chief of police will marshal all resources at this command to prevent and solve crimes in his area of jurisdiction.

He also directed the chiefs of police to continue conducting checkpoints along the highways in a bid to intercept motorists who may be illegally carrying firearms.

The spate of killings noticeably returned in many parts of Pangasinan since the lifting of the gun ban in connection with the past Barangay Sangguning Kabataan Elections on November 10

Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Orlando Mabutas who also noted the increasing crime incidents not only in Pangasinan but also in the other provinces of the Ilocos Region (La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte), gave the police provincial office the green light to continue setting up checkpoints.

Pangasinan maintained its reputation as the most peaceful province in the Ilocos, which it earlier received during the previous gun ban enforced during the simultaneous Local and National Elections last May.–LM

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