The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has stepped into the investigation on the series of attacks against the personnel of the Bureau of Customs, the latest was the case of a lawyer who was shot in Pasay City.
Col. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the CIDG is now coordinating with the Bureau of Customs in the conduct of the probe into eight cases of attacks.
"Since December last year, we already recorded six cases and these do nor include at least two cases of grenade-throwing," said Fajardo in a press briefing.
"All of these cases are now being looked into. The CIDG has already created SITG (Special Investigation Task Group) Adwana to have focus that occurred in various areas. Although these cases occurred in different places, they all happened inside the National Capital Region and the CIDG has already stepped into the investigation involving these Customs personnel," she added.
Fajardo said the PNP is now coordinating with the latest victim, 30-year old old Joseph Samuel Zapata who was shot while driving a Toyota Fortuner. But she said Zapata is yet to be interviewed since he is set to undergo operation as one of the bullets was stuck on his nape.
Of the six attacks since December, four of the BOC employees died and the latest was BOC Information Technology expert Gil Manalapas.
Calls for investigation from both the House of Representatives and the Senate were already made but a formal probe is to be conducted.
Fajardo, however, disclosed that a suspect was already charged after he was caught roaming around the BOC. The gun seized from him matched with the slugs taken from two of the BOC employee victims.
In addition, she said the CIDG is now coordinating with the Rizal police to interview an arrested suspect whose seized gun matched with the slug taken from another Custom employee.
"Aside from the CIDG, the NBI is now also investigating and work-related angle will be looked into involving these Customs personnel," said Fajardo.