Pangasinan State U dean shot; cops eying love angle

By Liezle Basa Iñigo

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The dean of the Criminology Department of the Pangasinan State University (PSU)-Binmaley was ambushed by riding-in-tandem gunmen, but survived after he outmaneuvered his assailants along Avenida Rizal Street in East Poblacion, here last Wednesday.

Dean Rommel J. Cruz, 43, married, suffered three bullet wounds during the attack at the corner of Avenida Rizal and Maramba Boulevard, said Supt. Jackson Sequin, local police chief.

Initial investigation showed the gunmen, riding-in-tandem on a motorcycle, opened fire at Cruz’s Toyota Vios (XNS-303) while he was driving eastbound to PSU-Binmaley campus.

Although hit in the chest, shoulder and head, Cruz managed to drive in reverse to evade the assailants who had blocked their motorcycle in front of him, said Sequin.

As of press time, the victim was confined at Jesus Nazarene General Hospital’s intensive care unit.

Sequin said probers are eyeing a love angle behind the attack and confirmed that certain women close to Cruz were already being sought for questioning.