PNP: Rizal, Cagayan mayor Ruma received threat before fatal shooting

Rizal, Cagayan Mayor Joel Ruma had received a threat prior to his fatal shooting during a campaign sortie on Wednesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday.

“Base po sa report ng regional director ng Police Regional Office 2, initially sinabi nila na wala po daw threat na natatanggap ang mayor,” PNP public information office head Police Colonel Randulf Tuaño said in a press conference.

(Based on the report of the regional director of Police Regional Office 2, they initially said that the mayor had not received any threats.)

“Pero kanina po, under investigation po, sa patuloy na pag-iimbestiga nila lumalabas po, may mga anggulo po na may threat na natatanggap ‘yun pong mayor. ‘Yun po ‘yung isa sa pagbabago,” he added.

(But earlier, as they continue to investigate, it is emerging that there are angles that the mayor had received threats. That is one of the developments.)

Due to this, Tuaño PNP chief Police General Rommel Marnil advised those who are receiving threats to report to authorities.

“Binigyan niya po ng instruction ang director ng Police Security and Protection Group na kung sila po ay nakakatanggap ng mga death threats ay agad na bigyan po ng temporary security detail ng direktor po ng PSPG,” he said.

(He instructed the director of the PSPG that if they receive death threats, they should immediately be given a temporary security detail by the director of the PSPG.)

“Usually ‘yung proseso is isa hanggang dalawang buwan. Pero ito po’y pinamamadali. Bago po kayo bigyan ng official na police protective security po na aabot po ng one to two months, ito po’y pinagbibigyan agad-agad ” he added.

(Usually the process is one to two months. But this is being expedited. Before you are given official police protective security which takes one to two months, this is being provided immediately.)

Ruma on Wednesday evening was shot, sustaining an entrance gunshot wound on his right shoulder and an exit gunshot wound on his upper-to-middle right back chest.

The mayor was brought to Tuao District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival at 10:31 p.m.

PNP director for police community relations Police Major General Roderick Augustus Alba said the PNP leadership will visit the area to check the investigation.

“I was informed ng ang ating mismong top leadership ay pupunta doon ngayon to follow up o to check kung ano ‘yung update ng investigation,” Alba said.

(I was informed that our own top leadership will be there today to follow up or to check what the update of the investigation is.)

“It is underway, ‘yung investigation. Merong special investigation task group na na-create ‘yung ating regional director,” he added.

(The investigation is underway. There is a special investigation task group that our regional director has created.) — BAP, GMA Integrated News