Cajipe said Villanueva, 61, who served as regional officer of Highway Patrol Group-Region 3 (HPG-R3), Provincial Director of Bulacan PPO, Provincial Jail Warden of Bulacan and current head of the Civil Security and Jail Management Office of the Provincial Capitol was gunned down by unidentified motorcycle-riding men along Bagbag Bridge, Brgy Iba O Este, Calumpit Bulacan at about 6pm on Wednesday.
Based on the report, Villanueva together with his driver bodyguard, Pedro Flores, 44, were on board a black Mitsubishi Estrada with red plate number SHX 829 and traversing along Mc Arthur Highway Calumpit, Bulacan when they were shot several times by unidentified assailants.
The two immediately alighted from the vehicle due to the traffic congestion but Villanueva was chased by the suspects and shot him successively causing his death. His driver was left unharmed.
The victim and his driver came from the Bulacan Provincial Capitol Building and headed to City of San Fernando, Pampanga where the victim lives.
Meanwhile, Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando promised to exhort all efforts to serve justice to the killing of Villanueva.
“Labis po ang pagkagulat at lungkot ng inyong lingkod ng makarating sa akin ang balita tungkol sa pagpaslang sa isa sa mga maaasahan kong kapwa lingkod bayan sa Pamahalaang Panlalawigan.
Sa tulong ng ating provincial director, layunin natin ang mabilis na imbestigasyon upang mapanagot sa batas kung sino ang nasa likod ng krimeng ito. Ipinaabot ko ang taos-pusong pakikiramay sa nga naulila ni Col. Villanueva na naglingkod sa ating lalawigan sa mahabang panahon,” Fernando said.
It was learned that upon receipt of the report Bulacan PNP immediately ordered the conduct of dragnet operations to pursue and locate the fleeing armed suspects. CCTV footages are being collated for the possible movement and identification of the suspects.
Continuous follow-up operation is being undertaken by Bulacan police together with other law enforcement agencies like CIDG and NBI for the immediate solution of the gruesome killing.
“No stones will be left unturned to solve this case. We will investigate all angles and look into all possible motives for this gruesome killing of a comrade in public service,” added Cajipe.