NBI-7 looking at three angles in Mayor Loot’s strafing incident

CEBU, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7 is looking at three angles on the strafing incident involving Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot at Maya Port last Sunday.

The possible motives in the strafing include: personal grudges, related to Loot’s work as mayor, and related to Loot’s previous work with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

NBI-7 Regional Director Patricio Bernales Jr. explained that the other angle that the attack might be drug-related is for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to look into.

Moreover, he said that their office sent a team last May 15 to do the parallel investigation. The office considers the Loot strafing incident as a “priority case.”

Despite this, the NBI-7 has not made significant progress in terms of the identity of the assailants.

Bernales Jr. also shared limited details to the media to protect the sensitive information they have gathered so far.

“Our investigation is rolling, but probably mas advanced na ang sa police,” Bernales Jr. said.

Even if the NBI-7 is conducting a separate investigation, the regional director assured that they will be sharing the pieces of evidence and leads they have gathered to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) Director Manuel Abrugena said the investigation is now pursuing a lead on Loot’s attack.

He said that if they base it on their barometer, the investigation is now at 40 or 50 percent, with the initial evidence collated.

However, Abrugena did not disclose any further information, so as not to hamper the progress of the investigation.

"So far walang identities, pero may mga leads kami.  Hindi pa namin pwede i-divulge because it might affect the on-going investigation and operation," he said.

Abrugena leads the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG), an investigating body composed of several police units to help the investigation.

He said that investigators were not able to obtain closed-circuit television cameras in the area where the attack took place because the cameras were either not functional or located away from the scene.

He urged those who have knowledge to shed light on the incident to expedite the investigation.

“Nananawagan po kami sa mga tao, na maaring makatulong upang ma-expedite ang resolution na lumantad at pumunta sa aming office at makipagtulungan para po mapabilis ang pag-solve ng case,” Abrugena said. — Mae Clydyl L. Avila/GAN (FREEMAN)