PNP's Eleazar orders thorough investigation into Cavite cyclist killing

The Philippine National Police was ordered to thoroughly investigate the killing of a cyclist whose body was recovered in Kawit, Cavite on October 3.

According to a Saturday PNP report, investigators initially thought victim Kenneth Ponce, whose body was found along Barangay Tabon's Abaya Road, was killed by a hit-and-run driver.

But a thorough check on his body revealed that he had been shot to death.

Ponce's mountain bike was missing and police are looking into the possibility he was killed by robbers.

“Nakarating sa akin ang apela ng mga magulang ng isa nating kababayang bike rider na walang awang pinatay at pinagnakawan pa ng bisekleta sa Cavite," said PNP Chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar.

(The appeals of the parents of a cyclist who was mercilessly killed and robbed of his bicycle in Cavite have reached me.)

“Inatasan ko na ang mismong RD, PRO4A PBGen Ely Cruz na tutukan ang kasong ito at gawin ang lahat upang matukoy at mapanagot ang sinumang may kagagawan ng krimeng ito.”

(I ordered the Police Regional Office Regional Director himself, Police Brigadier General Ely Cruz, to focus on this case and do everything possible to identify and bring to justice whoever it was who was responsible for this crime.)

Eleazar also tasked unit commanders to determine the schedules and routes taken by cyclists so that police patrols could be conducted to ensure their safety.

“Hindi natin hahayaan na manaig ang takot sa ating mga bike riders na gusto lamang magpalakas ng resistensya sa gitna ng hinaharap nating pandemya,” the PNP chief emphasized.

(We won't allow our cyclists to be frightened as they only want to be healthy in the middle of a pandemic.)

— DVM, GMA News