Witness IDs 2 gunmen in prison van ambush

CEBU, Philippines — A witness has identified two of the four hired gunmen who ambushed the van of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) and killed a high-profile inmate and two jail guards in Kalunasan last week.

Police Senior Superintendent Royina Garma, director of CCPO, told reporters in a press conference yesterday that a witness have surfaced and can physically describe two of the four assailants.

The witness is a resident in Barangay Kalunasan whose identity is withheld for security reasons.

She said that the police are investigating deeper to determine who hired the gunmen.

Garma has personally assessed the credibility of the witness and vouched that they can rely on the statement.

"I have talked to the witness and mukha na man may credibility. But explore more, para maidentify pa, kasi sensational ang case and ayaw ko maglaroon ng mali ang pulis," she said.

Garma added that she is working with the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) because the two gun men who were identified by the witness operate in Cebu Province.

"We are working with CPPO kasi nasa area nila ang suspects," she said.

She reiterated that drug war is still considered the motive behind the ambush.

To recall, CCPO eyed  “drug war among drug lords” as possible motive behind the ambush of prison van that led to the death of  Bernie Bayutas and Joel Teves, and Jerrifer Perigrino, who came from the CPDRC and on their way to a courthouse from a hearing.

The three did not make it as they were waylaid and shot by at least four unidentified assailants, as they made a turn in Unit 5 Oprra, meters away from CPDRC

Perigrino, was arrested some time ago in Argao by operatives of PIB for possession of illegal drugs. He was able to serve jail time for that case.

However, he was arrested once again.

He was in jail for the second time for another drug-related case.  CPDRC warden and retired police general Reynaldo Valmoria said that Perigrino revealed it was ‘big time’ drug lord Alvaro ‘Barok’ Alvaro that led the proliferation of illegal drugs in CPDRC.

He added that considering Alvaro’s assets as a drug lord, he has the machinery to order the killing of Perigrino. — MBG (FREEMAN)