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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Police press probe on ex-Batangas solon's murder

Police press probe on ex-Batangas solon's murder

Published Jan 10, 2020 12:00 am
By Martin Sadongdong  Police investigators were determining the identity of the last person that made contact with former Batangas second district representative Edgar Mendoza who was among the three persons found dead in a burning car in Tiaong, Quezon, a police spokesperson disclosed Friday. PNP spokesman P/Col. Bernard Banac (PNP / MANILA BULLETIN) PNP spokesman P/Col. Bernard Banac
(PNP / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police, said probers found out that Mendoza was supposed to meet someone in Calamba, Laguna on the day he died. "Ang ginagawa natin, nagba-backtracking kung sino ang kakausapin niya sana. Marahil doon makakuha tayo ng information para matukoy ang suspects (We are doing a backtracking of who he was supposed to talk to. Perhaps we can get an information from there to determine the suspects)," Banac told reporters at Camp Crame in Quezon City. "Ang nais malaman, sino 'yung kakausapin sana sa Calamba dahil natukoy natin na noong umalis siya ng 10 a.m. sa kanilang bahay, mayroon siyang ka-meeting. Hindi lang natin matukoy kung bakit sa Quezon natagpuan. (What we want to know is the person he's meeting in Calamba because we found out that when he left their home around 10 a.m., he was meeting someone. We have yet to determine why he was found in Quezon)," he added. Mendoza's charred body was found in a burning car in an isolated area in Tiaong around 2 a.m. Thursday. Police said the car had been burning for two hours before the residents reported to authorities that they heard explosion in the area. Police said they went to the area and found the burning car. Also found beside Mendoza were two bodies believed to be his driver and personal assistant. The identities of the victims have yet to be determined through DNA testing although Mendoza's family has already issued a statement confirming that among the fatalities was the ex-congressman. Banac said there is a possibility that the victims were killed first before they were burned inside the car. "That is one way to erase any trace of the victims' identities," Banac said. Banac said the Calabarzon police regional office (PRO-4A) has already created a special investigation task group (SITG) to expedite the resolution of the case. However, the investigators have yet to determine the suspects and the motive behind the grim crime.
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