Cops eye drug link as motive: Couple shot dead

CEBU, Philippines — A couple allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade was killed while on the road at past 11 p.m. Sunday in Barangay Ibabao, Mandaue City.

Initial investigation revealed that Michael Canes, 27; his wife, Fraldine Kate, 24; and nine-year-old daughter, were on board a motorcycle and were waiting for the signal light to turn green when the assailants, also on board a motorcycle, drove near them and shot them several times.

The shooting happened at the intersection of A.C. Cortes and SB Cabahug Streets. The assailants fled the crime scene immediately.

The couple died on the spot while their daughter survived. The girl is now under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The victims had come from the Cebu North Terminal and were heading home at that time.

Alleged drug ties

Mandaue City Police Director Julian Entoma told The FREEMAN that the Canes couple is in the unified drug watchlist of the Mandaue City Police Office and the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

“Ang kani nga couple, labot ni sa 3,600 plus nga verified individuals under the watchlist This couple is among the 3,600 verified individuals under the watchlist),” Entoma said.

The verification was reportedly conducted in October 2018.

Entoma said the couple had links to Cebu’s Joy Encila, referred to as Cebu’s “shabu queen,” who was arrested in Consolacion town.

“The couple is more on delivery, tig-transport and dili sila maoy mo-direct og deal sa buyer (The couple was more on delivery, in transporting the drugs. They did not deal with the buyer directly),” Entoma said.

Thorough probe

Fraldine Kate’s sister, Gernnybe Ramayla, is demanding a thorough investigation into the police’s disclosure.

“Any of you can investigate and ask everyone in our neighbourhood if naa ba jud silay binuhatan ingon ana. You don’t know anything about them, about our family. So please know the details before judging,” reads her comment on The FREEMAN’s Facebook page.

“I’m sick of those people making the victims looks like the criminals. We would be guilty if they are, but they are not. Witnessed ang tanan taw kaila nila unsa sila nagsugod. Nagsugod ra sila sa zero, dili dali-dali ilang naagian before sila na successful,” she added.

Entoma said they respect the right of the couple’s family to deny the police’s information.

“That’s their right.”

Investigation

For now, Entoma said, they are eyeing at “internal cleansing” or rivalry in the drug business as motives in the killing.

Entoma said they were able to secure footage from a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera in the area but it shows only the assailants’ backs.

“Naa mi nakuha but buko-buko man, pag-exit na (We secured a footage but it only shows their backs as they were leaving),” he said.

The people they were able to interview, so far, did not see the faces of the assailants who were reportedly wearing helmets. (FREEMAN)