Ozamiz City RTC executive judge gunned down in ambush

[Ozamiz City RTC Executive Judge Edmundo Pintac slumped on driver's seat. PHOTOS: WENDELL TALIBONG]  

OZAMIZ CITY - Executive Judge Edmundo Pintac of Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 15, in Ozamiz City was killed by still unidentified riding-in-tandem assailants Monday afternoon while driving on his way home, the police said.

Pintac was gunned down near the gate of Naomi's Botanical Garden in Purok 2-B in Barangay Banadero, Ozamiz City, at around 4:20 p.m., Monday, October 8, 2018, according to PNP Supt. Surki Serenas, spokesperson of the PNP Northern Mindanao Regional Office.

Senior Supt. Emmanuel Hebron, chief of the Misamis Occidental Police Provincial Office said he had not yet received any detailed report from investigators, but indicated that there were more than two assailants.




Hebron said the judge was provided with a police officer as his security escort.  

Reports say that the cases of illegal drugs and firearms against detained Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog are filed and heard in RTC Branch 15 which Judge Pintac presides. 

Meanwhile, investigators had not yet determined the motive of the killing.

The judge lay dead and slumped toward the right-hand on the driver's seat.  

Foot on the brake

The SOCO operatives were surprised when they attempted to lift the body out of his brown Montero SUV when the vehicle moved forward dropping the judge's body on the ground and run over by the moving vehicle.  They learned that the victim was, all the while during the investigation and clearing process, still putting his foot on the brake. 

Serenes said Pintac sustained six gunshot wounds in his head and body, causing his instantaneous death.

Police said the gunmen fled immediately after the shooting.

Serenes said empty caliber .45 casings were found at the scene of the crime.

The authorities continued their investigations and autopsy at the funeral parlor.

Cases handled by Judge Pintac

Last year, Pintac denied the petition of the arrested Parojinog siblings to attend the wake of their parents and relatives who were killed during the July 30, 2017 raid.

Vice Mayor Parojinog was arrested on July 30, 2017, during a two-hour gunbattle with the police that left her father, Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and mother, Susan, along with 13 of their followers dead. [Wendel Talibong and Jigger J. Jerusalem, Inquirer.Net, Froiland Gallardo, MindaNews and video coverage by Thata Roxas, Mindanao Broadcasting Channel]