ILIGAN CITY -- Authorities are looking into reports that the gun-for-hire killed by authorities Saturday afternoon, March 4, may have links to the killing of Dr. Dreyfuss Perlas, the young municipal health officer of Sapad town, Lanao del Norte murdered last week.
The gun-for-hire, identified as Agapito Tamparong Democer, also known as Rico Tamparong Manatad and Darwin, was gunned down by soldiers and policemen after he fought with authorities serving a warrant for his arrest in Barangay Tiacongan, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte around 3 p.m. Saturday.
Lieutenant Marlowie Dicen, Bravo company commander, 15th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army said Democer is also a suspect in a series of shooting incidents in the town and in nearby municipalities of the province.
A tipster informed the police that Democer was in Tiacongan indulging in a drinking spree with five other companions.
The warrant of arrest was dated February 22 and was for two double murder and frustrated murder cases.
"When the troops were approaching the area, the suspect noticed and suddenly ran which resulted to a pursuit operation, until he was cornered beside the rice field at Purok 8, Barangay Bagong Silang, Kapatagan. The troops asked him to surrender calmly upon seeing that suspect was holding a hand fragmentation grenade and attempted to throw it to the arresting team," the Army after action report stated.
One of Democer's companions was able to escape while the other four were freed because they had no pending cases and were not armed.
Dicen said Democer was an ex-New People’s Army (NPA) rebel.
Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Commander Faro Antonio Olaguera said investigators have pinpointed three possible angles for investigation in the Perlas murder.
But Olaguera declined to comment on the possible motives for Perlas’ murder pending the completion of the investigation.
Olaguera said investigators were able to recover a fragmentation grenade from Democer’s body.
His pistol, said to be a .45 caliber pistol, was not recovered.
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