CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Police Regional Office 10 (Northern Mindanao) has called on the region’s judges who believe they are under threat, to apply for both authorizations to carry firearms and avail of police escorts.
In the wake of the assassination of Ozamiz City Branch 15 Judge Edmundo Pintac on Monday, PRO-10 spokesperson Senior Supt. Surki Sereñas said the police will immediately process the applications for licenses to carry firearms once it receives them.
The police will also assign Police Security and Protection Group personnel to protect the judges once the need for escorts is identified.
Sereñas said these police officers are specially trained to handle VIP and close-in protection.
According to the Supreme Court’s Office of the Court Administrator website, there are 31 judges assigned in the five provinces of Northern Mindanao, including the late Pintac.
There has been no application for police escort from these judges as of Wednesday, Sereñas said.
He also said they are looking at angles other than work-related in the ambush-slaying of Pintac.
PIntac, who handled the controversial drug charges against Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog, was gunned down inside the vehicle he was driving in Banadero in the city Monday afternoon, succumbing to nine bullet wounds. –PNA
