Police theorize: Hired gun killed jail guard

CEBU, Philippines - Police theorized that professional hired killer was responsible in the killing of a jail officer in Liloan town last Monday.

Dr. Nestor Sator, medico legal officer, said the gunshot wounds sustained by Jail Officer Leo Labata suggest that the assailant was a gun-for-hire.

The autopsy result revealed that Labata sustained gunshot wounds in the back portion of his body and left shoulder hitting his heart. According to the police, this suggests that the gunman was determined to finish off the victim.

Liloan police chief Richard Oliver supported Sator’s theory saying that the testimonies of the witnesses also suggest that the gunman was really professional.

The witnesses claimed that they saw the gunman changing the magazine of his pistol after his firearm malfunctioned five times. It was only after the gunman changed the magazine of his firearm that he was able to shoot the victim.

Oliver believes that the gunman was not from Liloan because he was confident enough that nobody would recognize him. The gunman did not cover his face when he shot the victim.

Police investigators said they are now looking at the work-related angle as possible motive in the killing. Labata was reportedly noted for his strictness in the performance of his job.

Oliver said they now have at least three witnesses who are willing to help in the investigation. According to Oliver, they are now working on the cartographic sketch of the gunman based on the descriptions provided by the witnesses.

They are also coordinating with the Land Transportation Office to trace the motorcycle used by the gunman as getaway vehicle.

Labata’s brother, assistant city prosecutor Simaco Labata, said they will not pressure the police to rush the investigation.

Simaco believes that the killer of his brother will face justice when the time comes.

“Naa ta’y gitawag ug divine justice dili man siya manubag ngari apan wa’y makaikyas ana,” (There is what we called divine justice, if he will not be made to answer here, he cannot escape it) the victim’s brother said. — (FREEMAN)