PNP chief orders relief of 2 police officials after alleged lapses in Malayao slay probe

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde ordered on Friday the administrative relief of two high-ranking police officers after alleged lapses in the investigation of  peace consultant Randy Malayao's killing.

According to PNP spokesperson Bernard Banac, ordered relieved of their duties were Nueva Ecija Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Jeremias Aglugub, and Aritao Municipal's Police Station's Police chief Inspector Geovanni Cejes for mishandling the evidence at the crime scene.

Randy Malayao, peace consultant of the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), was shot dead on Wednesday morning inside a passenger bus in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya as he was going home to Isabela. 

Banac said that Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, director of Police Regional Office 2, will designate the replacement for the two officers.

Meanwhile. investigations are still ongoing to determine the motive behind the killing but some groups have claimed the incident as a case of extrajudicial killing and is linked to Malayao's involvement in the peace talks. — Kaela Malig/MDM, GMA News