The plate numbers of the vehicles used by the two assailants during an ambush in Marikina City last Thursday (May 27) belong to tricycles registered in the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Cotabato.
This was disclosed by Marikina City Police chief, Col. Benliner Capili, on Friday (May 28).
He said the gunmen who killed Nomer Cardines, a retired policeman, used vehicles bearing fake plate numbers.
“The plate numbers of the Starex and white van used in the ambush belong to tricycles. They were registered in Nueva Ecija and Cotabato,” he said in a phone interview.
“Apparently, they were using fake plate numbers.”
The Marikina Police chief said the assailants were aboard two vehicles—a gray van (MB 8102) and a white van (YZ 5354).
The Marikina City Police said they are now trying to obtain closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage to get the identity of the gunmen.
Capili said Cardines availed of optional retirement in 2020. “He served as a policeman in Quezon City, Muntinlupa, and Pateros,” he added.
In the initial report by the Marikina Police, two gunmen shot to death Cardines while he was aboard his parked car on Captain Lorenzo Street in Barangay IVC, Marikina around 8:30 a.m., on Thursday (May 27).
Witnesses told the police that the assailants were aboard a Starex and a white van.
Recovered from the crime scene were 18 spent shells from an M16 rifle, and two spent shells from a 9mm caliber.
Capili said they are determining the possible motive behind the death of the retired policeman as he had no known enemies.