Witness to brothers’ murders surfaces

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Police Office said they can now file charges against the man who allegedly shot dead two seafarer brothers after a witness agreed to execute an affidavit.

The agreement between the witness and the police investigators came two days after the family of the slain Neil and Nick Ong staged a rally calling for justice.

“Naa’y development, atong investigators were able to convince one of the witnesses nga nakakita, and last information nako, mo-issue siya affidavit and maka-file ta og kaso,” said Superintendent Ryan Devaras, chief of the CCPO Investigation and Detective Management Branch.

Nick, 25 and Neil, 28, who both worked as seafarers, were shot dead by an assailant last January 27 dawn in a drinking joint along F. Llamas Street, Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City.

Primarily the target of the attacker was Nick, the younger brother, who died after he was shot in the right side of his head with the bullet exiting from the left side.

The assailant immediately ran away after shooting Nick. However, the victim's brother Neil chased the assailant who shot at him three times. One of the bullets hit Neil in the upper chest and killed him.

Devaras said investigators were able to identify the assailants days after the incident. However, they kept his identity under wraps as the case could not go forward without any witnesses.

“Ang pag-file sa kaso gud, pangitaan ta og witness sa korte, di man ta ka-file og kaso kung wala’y basis, mao to ang kuwang,” Devaras said.

Devaras said the alleged assailant is a notorious gun-for-hire and shot dead another victim after shooting the Ong brothers.

Police investigators are also looking into another possible motive behind the shooting, aside from personal grudge and love triangle.

“During sa pag-interview, naa sila nakita nga different angle dili lang sa love triangle,” Devaras said. (FREEMAN)