Police are looking into the killing of Roland Cortez, the director of the National Center for Mental Health, who was shot dead at 7 a.m. in Quezon City on Monday.
The Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit said Cortez’s driver, Ernesto dela Cruz, was also killed during the incident.
The two were aboard a Toyota car and were cruising Cassanova Drive and Tandang Sora Avenue in Barangay Culiat when two men on a motorcycle appeared from behind and shot them before fleeing.
The Health department issued a statement saying it was “shocked and alarmed” at the news of the killing of Cortez and his driver.
“The DOH [Department of Health] family extends its deepest condolences to the families of Dr. Roland and Mr. Ernesto, and vows to pursue justice for their untimely deaths,” the department said.
“Dr. Cortez was a respected leader who sought to treat clients with utmost dignity. The DOH is coordinating with authorities and the PNP-CIDU to ensure that the perpetrators are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
On July 15, 2019, Cortez, a former director of East Avenue Medical Center, filed graft charges against Clarita Avila, a doctor, in her capacity as chief administrative officer for her alleged involvement in a fraudulent contract