Probe into Rupinta killing: Work-related angle tops list

CEBU, Philippines — Felicisimo “Imok” Rupinta’s work in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City tops the list of motives cops are looking into as they investigate the killing of the barangay captain Thursday night.

Police Supt. Joie Pacito Yape, chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch, pointed out Rupinta’s active campaign against illegal drugs and his decision to demolish stalls of fish vendors along Calderon Street at the Carbon Market.

Aside from this, other angles are also considered.

“Among gitan-aw tanang anggulo. Upat ka anggulo among gitan-aw – love triangle, pagka barangay captain, nasuko o naligsan (kay) rampant ang illegal drugs sa iyang area… ato pud gitan-aw basin naa rebels diri, naa puy giingon ang pulitika… wala pa gyud tay giingon nga tukma,” Yape said.

Superintendent Jonathan Cabal, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division, echoes the statement.

“As reported in the papers, na probably yung work niya, and yung barangay captain has been in the headlines allegedly for his campaign on vendors and some for drugs (but) we do not know for fact the complete reason why he was killed,” Cabal said.

Rupinta and his common-law wife, Jocelyn Mendoza, were traveling to their house in East Land Village in Liloan town when four assailants on board two motorcycles sandwiched their car and shot the barangay captain.

Jocelyn was unharmed but Rupinta succumbed to two gunshot wounds to the head. The vehicle, a grey Isuzu D-Max, also fell down a shallow ravine.

Police recovered empty shells of a .9 mm pistol from the crime scene.

Cabal said Police Regional Office (PRO) - 7 Director Jose Mario Espino has ordered a speedy investigation.

“The regional director has directed us to solve immediately yung kaso and ini-integrate natin lahat ng efforts meron tayo on hot pursuit operations,” Cabal said.

Part of the investigation is identifying structures in the area that have closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras that may have captured the incident.

“The police are still collecting and collating all possible pieces of evidence that may conclude for a motive of this, we cannot leave any stones unturned, and deny other probable motives, anybody is a suspect and lahat ng motive are being covered,” Cabal said.

To recall, Rupinta and his councilmen in Ermita, Cebu City were suspended earlier this year for their alleged failure to coordinate with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 in the anti-drug operations in the barangay.

After his six-month suspension, Rupinta launched another strategy in his anti-drug campaign by posting “drug-free” tarpaulins on houses whose residents don’t have links to illegal drugs.

He also made the headlines recently when he ordered the stalls and tables of vendors in the barangay cleared, which prompted the city government to demolish the outposts of his tanods.

“Eventually the regional director will direct us and form a SITG (Special Investigation Task Group), considering the fact that an elected official was killed,” Cabal said.

Reward

Yesterday, Rupinta’s political allies are raising P300,000 as reward to those who can give information that would lead to the arrest of the killers.

“Almost all members of the City Council (allies of the opposition)… we had a meeting and then tungod sa atong concern nga masulbad gyud ning nahitabo. We cry justice for Imok Rupinta. Naka come up mi and mo-contribute mi to come up with the P300,000 sa kinsay makatabang niining nahitabo ni Imok Rupinta,” said Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella.

Councilor Joel Garganera asked those not with the police force not to interfere in the investigation.

“This is a well-planned and –executed assassination. For sure, naay mastermind niani. I just hope that those who are not professionals should refrain from issuing statements about the investigation,” he said.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña agrees.

“People are looking at me because I am an enemy. I don’t really like to say anything because whatever I will say they will say I am trying to twist the direction but it could be any motive. Let’s just let the police do their job,” Osmeña said.

Replacement

Rene Burdeous, director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) -7, said the number one councilman in Ermita, Mark Rizaldy Miral, will replace Rupinta upon recommendation of the barangay council.

The barangay council will have to send its recommendation Osmeña.

The mayor, for his part, said he is open to sitting down with Miral to discuss how the city government can assist the barangay.

“Of course, my big concern is the discontinuity. I don’t like to overreact so we will see how they will manage themselves. There is a government procedure for that so the number one councilor becomes the barangay captain. I am willing to sit down with him to see what they need,” Osmeña said.

Reactions

Ermita Barangay Secretary Erwin Peñafort who has worked with Rupinta for over 16 years said the late barangay captain has put “peace and order” in the “chaotic barangay.”

“Sa wala pa nahimong konsehal ug kapitan si Kap Imok, dili ka makagawas nga buhi sa barangay kon wala kay kaila. Ingon ana kasamok kadtong wala pa si Kap. Karong wala na gyud siya, wala nako kahibaw maunsa ang barangay,” Peñafort told The FREEMAN in between tears.

“Kadtong wala pa si Kap, ang mga tao sa Ermita, mura’g wala kaila og balaod. Si Kap Imok kinsa grabe ka isog nga nibarog para sa barangay ang nakapahapsay sa barangay. Wala pako’y laing nakita nga leader nga makahulip ni Kap Imok,” he added.

Peñafort said he was talking with Rupinta last week about the latter’s birthday celebration on December 16.

Rupinta was supposed to turn 63.

“Daghan unta kaayo og plano si Kap sa iyang birthday diris barangay,” he said.

Emmanuel Zozobrado, 52, a resident and a supporter of Rupinta, rushed to barangay hall upon hearing of the incident. He echoed Peñafort’s sentiment.

“Dakong kapildihan sa barangay ang pagkawala ni Kap Imok,” he also said, crying.

"Usa ra gyud akong mahinomduman ni Kap. Siya ang pinakaisog nga lider namo diris barangay," he said. (FREEMAN)