Manila Bulletin

DepEd condemns killing of admin officer; forms fact-finding task force

- By MERLINA HERNANDO-MALIPOT

The Department of Education (DepEd) condemned the death of one of its officials in Negros Oriental as it formed a fact-finding task force to help in the investigat­ion of his death.

Oscar Asildo Jr., an Administra­tive Officer III of DepEd Division Office in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental was killed by unidentifi­ed gunmen on August 30. Police said the victim was about to board his vehicle in front of the Guihulngan South Central School (GSCS) when two unidentifi­ed suspects approached and shot him to death. He was brought to a hospital but was declared dead upon arrival.

DepEd reiterated that it “decries all forms of violence, especially those that imperil the lives and well-being of our learners, teachers, and personnel.”

“More than ever, we uphold the sanctity of peace in schools and emphasize

A former detainee and his companion, who were riding a motorcycle, were shot dead by gunmen onboard a car in Malabon City Friday night, police said.

Police identified the male victim as Edmund Cruz, 33, of Dos Martinez Street, Barangay San Jose, Malabon, while his companion, a woman in her mid 20s or 30s, remains unidentifi­ed.

Investigat­ion showed that the victims, onboard a motorcycle, were traversing E. De Jesus Street when the three unidentifi­ed men onboard a Mirage car fired several shots towards them at 11:40 p.m. Witnesses said the gunmen then sped off towards Barangay San Agustin.

Cruz died on the spot due to several bullet wounds, while his companion was brought to the Tondo Medical Center where she was declared dead on arrival.

Seized from Cruz were .9mm pistol and 130,000. Nine fired cartridge cases of caliber .45 and a mobile phone were also found on the scene.

Police disclosed that Cruz was detained at the Navotas City Police Detention Cell in 2014 for a drug case.

Investigat­ion is now underway. the crucial role of the community in ensuring that security is maintained in every environmen­t where values of the youth are molded,” the DepEd, in an official statement, said.

“An employee of good standing like Asildo is a significan­t loss to the Department. A devoted father that he was is an even greater loss to his two small children,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said.

Briones also shared the “bereavemen­t of his family and offers her sincerest condolence­s on behalf of DepEd.”

Task force DepEd also formed a task force to help in the investigat­ion of Asildo’s case.

“With various theories and interpreta­tions circulatin­g on the cause of his death, DepEd Guihulngan has formed a fact-finding task force to help in the probe,” the Department said.

DepEd also called on local officials and law enforcemen­t agencies “to immediatel­y conduct a thorough investigat­ion and guarantee that justice is duly meted against the perpetrato­rs.” As in similar incidents, the Department enjoined “everyone to contribute in respecting schools as zones of peace and ensuring that law and order truly prevails in all communitie­s.”

In July, the DepEd Central Office has received two incidents of violence involving its personnel: The death of newlyinsta­lled Zamboanga Del Sur Schools Division Superinten­dent (SDS) Marcom Borongan on July 3 and an attempt on the life of Alitagtag National High School Principal Emily Mallari on July 4.

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