Medina assailant identified

CEBU, Philippines - Police have identified one of the men who repeatedly shot a businessman and his family in Barangay Labangon early Monday morning.

City Intelligence Branch chief Romeo Santander said the man is from Mindanao and was the one who rented the two vehicles used in last Monday’s attack on Dr. Rico Medina and his family.

After being tipped, Santander said they proceeded to a house in an uptown barangay where the suspect and at least four other accomplices allegedly stayed prior to attacking the victims.

Santander said they found an identification card of the alleged perpetrator and showed it to the owner of the car shop where the cars were rented.

“Gi-confirm sa nagrenta sa sakyanan na mao ‘to siya tawhana ang gaabang,” said Santander.

A witness, he said, also shared that different people came in and out of the said house and stayed there for six to ten days.

“Naa pu’y mapa and sketch na-recover, didto namo nakit-an ang places na ilang gi-take note. Maybe mao gyud na ang padulngan na lugar sa maong biktima na si Dr. Medina. Plano gyud,” Santander said.

At least five men repeatedly shot at Dr. Medina, his wife Arlene, son Benjie, and bodyguard Allan Dake while the victims were onboard a Toyota Fortuner at past midnight last Monday.

The assailants rode on a Toyota Vios, a Toyota Innova and another car that were later left abandoned in different areas in the city.

Cebu City Police Office director Mariano Natu-el Jr. said they have yet show the suspect’s photo and talk with the family.

“We invited the family (for the investigation) but they refused, so we give them time kay na-trauma pa sila,” said Natu-el.

He then deployed policemen at the vicinity of the victims’ residence for their security, even without the family’s request.

Natu-el said they are still eyeing personal grudge as the motive behind attempt to abduct or kill Medina.

“Gitan-aw nato ang iyang pagka-link sa Aman Futures scam,” he said.

The CCPO director said the firearms they recovered from two vehicles will be matched with the empty shells recovered from the crime scene.

The Cebu Provincial Police Office is now helping the CCPO in monitoring the whereabouts of the assailants. This after Natu-el received information that assailants are now trying to leave Cebu Province.

CPPO director Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador immediately directed all intelligence operatives to heighten their monitoring.

“Superintendent Natu-el gave us details of the assailants and the possible route of the escape,” Comendador said. Comendador is confident that assailants are still in the province. —with Ria Mae Y. Booc/BRP