Manhunt ramped up for beauty queen, coop exec killersMANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered a full-scale manhunt for the gunmen in the killings of a former beauty queen in Isabela and an electric cooperative director in Oriental Mindoro last Friday. Mendeja, on the other hand, was shot after briefly stopping to check the engine of his vehicle in Barangay Delrazon in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro. The motorcycle-riding gunman reportedly pulled over and shot the executive several times in the body. Emergency responders rushed Mendeja to the Oriental Mindoro Central District Hospital, where he died during treatment. Nartatez ordered yesterday the regional police directors in Cagayan Valley and Mimaropa to deepen their investigation to determine the motives for the killings and identify the suspects.

Source: Philippine Star February 16, 2026 16:41 UTC