Police Colonel killed in ambush

Grieving for the fallen brother, the Batangas Provincial Police Office's flag is now on half mast.

 Taal, Batangas—A police colonel was killed in an ambush while riding his bike in Brgy. Butong, this town at about 9 a.m. on July 12, a week before his scheduled transfer at the regional police office in Canlubang, Laguna.

     Victim Sr. Superintendent Rodney Ramirez, former chief of the Intelligence Department of the Batangas Police Provincial Office, sustained six gunshot wounds in his head and was rushed to the Lemery Doctor’s Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by attending doctor Don Reiniel Aristones de Mesa.

     According to the initial investigation by the Taal PNP, Ramirez was riding his bike on the provincial road of Brgy. Butong going westward to Lemery town when he was shot by six armed men aboard a gray Mitshubishi L-300 van with plate no. TKY349.

    After shooting Ramirez, the suspects left the van and fled on foot towards the direction of Sta. Teresita town.

Sr. Supt. Rodney Ramirez during a hostage-taking reenactment program held  on September 2010.

     The Taal PNP is now conducting a follow-up operation to track the suspects.

     Last week, Ramirez was on “floating status” pending transfer at the PNP Regional Office in Canlubang, Laguna.

     According to police officers close to Ramirez, when he was chief of the intelligence department, he investigated a big-time drug syndicate operating in Western Batangas with its base in Lemery town, just beside Taal, where he was killed.  (Mei Magsino/SLI)