Charges readied vs Brazil’s ‘shooter’

CEBU, Philippines - Homicide charges are now being readied against a certain Eric "Mano" Empaso, the suspect in the shooting of Lapu-Lapu City traffic chief Frank Brazil last August 8.

"Ready naman i-file ang kaso. Si sir Frank nalang ang kuwang para mopirma (The case is ready for filing. We are just waiting for Brazil's signature)," said Police Officer 3 Luisito Ernie, investigator at the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office.

Brazil was already discharged from the hospital where he was treated after sustaining two gunshot wounds to his back.

Ernie said the suspect was identified by Brazil himself and three other witnesses.

Empaso, who remains at large, is also suspected as the one responsible for the shooting and wounding of Basak Barangay Captain Isabelito Darnayla early this year.

Empaso, who used to live at Sitio Kabayuan in Barangay Pajac, has a pending search warrant for a murder case issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 53 in Lapu-Lapu City. The warrant was, however, not for the shooting of Darnayla.

Senior Superintendent Rommel Cabagnot, acting director of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, earlier told reporters that Empaso was a "gun-for-hire" and is not actually a native of Lapu-Lapu City.

"He is a gun-for-hire. Our focus, aside from the suspect, is to identify his contact," Cabagnot said.

Mayor Paz Radaza, in her regular press conference yesterday morning, said to hasten the Empaso's arrest, the city government is offering a P100,000 reward for anyone who can provide vital information regarding the whereabouts of the suspect.

The mayor said she is not also bent on replacing Brazil as head of the Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management Systems because he was performing well.

Radaza also said it was the city government that shouldered Brazil's hospital expenses.

In the evening of August 8, Brazil was shot in Barangay Poblacion while he was making final traffic preparations for the Cobra Ironman 70.3 the next day.

The traffic chief was then in a critical condition when he was rushed to the hospital but later recovered. — (FREEMAN)