Vehicle used in Aparri vice mayor ambush had stolen license plate —PNP

The license plate of the suspected getaway vehicle in the fatal ambush of Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda and five others in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya on Sunday was a stolen one, police said.

According to a report of GMA Regional TV Cebu's Nikko Sereno on GMA News’ Unang Balita, the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) is getting more information about the vehicle which was found burned in Solano.

“Sa ngayon po ay ongoing yung verification sa [Scene of the Crime Operatives]. Kinuha nila yung chassis number at engine number,” Bagabag Police chief Police Major Oscar Abrogena said.

(The verification of the Scene of the Crime Operatives is ongoing. They obtained the chassis number and engine number.)

“Yun po pwedeng nating makuha para ma-verify sa [Land Transportation Office] kung kanino nakapangalan yung sasakyan,” he added.

(We can use this to verify the owner of the vehicle with the Land Transportation Office.)

On Monday, Philippine National Police (PNP) public information chief Police Colonel Redrico Maranan said the license plate on the vehicle was issued to a broken vehicle currently at the compound of Nueva Vizcaya State University.

The PNP also said the suspects reportedly wore police uniforms. 

Alameda and five others were killed when their van was ambushed by gunmen in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya on Sunday.

Other victims were identified as Alexander Agustin Delos Angeles, Alvin Dela Cruz Abel, Abraham Dela Cruz Ramos, John Duane Banag Almeda, and Ismael Nanay.

An initial investigation showed the victims were aboard a Starex van on the way to Manila when more or less six suspects fired at them, police said. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News