Malubog shooting: Gun from 1 victim owned by jail guard

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has confirmed the gun found from one of the victims in the shooting that left five dead in Sitio Kan-Irag, Barangay Malubog last October was that of a jail officer.

CCPO Director Royina Garma said that the 9 mm firearm was positively identified by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) as one of theirs.

This was based on the markings found in the gun’s body that was serialized to the BJMP.

Garma, however, said that they are currently checking with the Firearms and Explosives Division (FED) to trace who it is registered to.

“Actually, according sa BJMP tinanong namin if may baril na ganun sa kanila and they claimed na meron daw.  Still, kahit meron, we still have to verify sa FED, kasi sila may record and maka-conclude tayo na kanino yun,” Garma said.

Police Superintendent Leoncio Baliguat, chief of CCPO Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB), said that it is possible that it was the same firearm that was taken from the jail guard who was killed in an ambush in Barangay Maghaway, Talisay City last July.

Baliguat said it could probably mean one of the victims in Malubog was behind the ambush.

To recall, the police discovered dawn of October 4 five dead bodies with several gunshot wounds in the upland barangay.

The victims were identified as Christopher Tangag, 25, of Barangay Basak San Nicolas; Carl Cabahug, 20, from Sitio Camansi Barangay Lorega; Leyster Abella, 26, of Lucio Drive Barangay Calamba; Rolando Tayor, 29, of A.Lopez Barangay Labangon og Diover Van Sanjorjo.

Balinguat identified Sanjorjo as the one who also tested positive of gun residue in the paraffin test that was conducted.

Since the police were able to confiscate five cellular phone units from the possession of the victims, the forensic examination also revealed that drug transaction was traced in the text exchanges in all the phones.

Garma also reiterated that based on the background check, the victims had records related to illegal drugs.

“Halos lahat may background check na halos sila lahat may record na,” she said.

However, she said that the initial results of the scientific examination are not conclusive evidence.

She said this would need further corroborative evidence from witnesses’ accounts. (FREEMAN)