Manhunt vs killers of ex‑beauty queen, coop official

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Sunday ordered a manhunt for the gunmen behind the fatal shooting of a former beauty queen in Isabela and a director of an electric cooperative in Oriental Mindoro. The move follows directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla to strengthen the law enforcement response to violent crimes and ensure swift justice for the victims.

“Strong words of condemnation against these cowardly attacks are not enough, we will focus on identifying and arresting all those involved in these two killings in the interest of justice and the rule of law,” Nartatez said.

Former Ms. Philippines‑Earth runner‑up and now school teacher Lullete Jane Ramilo‑De Guzman was inside her car with her children when a gunman started shooting her in Barangay Cabaritan in San Manuel town.

In Oriental Mindoro, Antonio M. Mendeja, a director of the Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, was shot while making a brief stop to check his vehicle in Pinamalayan town.

Nartatez said he has directed the regional directors of Police Regional Offices 2 and 4B to look deeper into the two cases to determine motive and to identify and arrest those responsible.

He also directed all police commanders to intensify crime prevention measures, including the establishment of checkpoints, increased police visibility, and strategic deployment of personnel under the Enhanced Managing Police Operation. Such measures are intended to deny criminal elements opportunities to strike and to ensure immediate response and certainty of arrest.

Nartatez urged anyone with relevant information on the two incidents to assist in the investigation.