PNP forms task group to probe killing of lawyers

Albayalde said the task group has been instructed to conduct in-depth probe on the killing of lawyers Edilberto Gollar Jr. in Rodriguez, Rizal; and Val Crisostomo in Dagupan City, Pangasian on Friday (May 17). (PNA file photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has created a special investigation task group (SITG) to investigate the killing of two lawyers in Pangasinan and Rizal last week, PNP chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, said on Monday.

Albayalde said the task group has been instructed to conduct in-depth probe on the killing of lawyers Edilberto Gollar Jr. in Rodriguez, Rizal; and Val Crisostomo in Dagupan City, Pangasian on Friday (May 17).

“As of this time wala pa silang maliwanag na resulta nung kanilang ginagawang imbestigasyon. Ang tinitingnan nila dito is may problema sa trabaho, work related that’s one and another is parang land dispute ang tinitingnan nilang anggulo (Their investigation has no clear results yet. They’re looking at possible work-related angle or land dispute),” said Abayalde in a press briefing.

Golla was gunned down by unidentified assailants on board a car while Crisostomo, a lawyer of Gaming technology firm Globaltech Mobile Online Corporation (Globaltech), was shot dead in front of the Hall of Justice in Dagupan.

Albayalde reiterated his directive to maintain intensified police operations particularly in the checkpoints to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

Meanwhile, Globaltech head for legal, Atty. Bernard Vitriolo, condemned the murder of their colleague.

“We condemn in the strongest terms this cold-blooded murder in broad daylight of our lawyer who was merely doing his job,” said Vitriolo in a statement.

He said the murder of Crisostomo was very likely connected to the Peryahan ng Bayan (PnB) operations in Pangasinan after the Court of Appeals allowed Globaltech to operate the digit games nationwide.

“The attack was not just on our lawyer and our company, but also on the country’s justice system as it seemed to send a message that our enemies, the enemies of Peryahan ng Bayan, do not subject themselves to the laws of men, and the Rule of Law,” Vitriolo said.

Vitriolo said Crisostomo was one of their lawyers pursuing the cases against several National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents who have allegedly conducted illegal raids and arrests of the Globaltech personnel who are manning the PnB games in Pangasinan.

“This will not stop us from pushing for our PnB games as a solution to the deficiencies and weaknesses of the PCSO’s (Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office) Small Town Lottery program,” Vitriolo said.