After ‘Narco’ Mayor’s ambush in Cebu City: No kill order - PRO-7

Cebu, Philippines —There is no shoot-to-kill order against mayors in the list of politicians allegedly involved in the drug trade, a ranking police official said as authorities are grappling with the fatal ambush of Clarin, Misamis Occidental Mayor David Navarro while in police custody in Cebu City on Friday.

Police Regional Office-7 Director Valeriano De Leon said they are looking at all possible motives in the killing.

“There are possibilities. Kahit naman nasa narcolist… do they have orders to shoot to kill? Wala naman… Motive, sa ngayon wala pa. We are looking at all angles. Work, personal, may naagrabyado ba. Sa affliations ba. Titignan din sa drugs (There are possibilities but even if he’s in the narcolist, was there a shoot-to-kill order? I don’t think so… We haven’t identified the motive… we are looking at all angles – work, personal, affiliations, drugs),” De Leon said.

Navarro who was arrested Thursday for allegedly mauling a massage parlor attendant and harassing a female therapist in Cebu City was being transported for inquest proceedings when the police van carrying him was ambushed.

A white van blocked the police vehicle just as it was entering the compound where the prosecutor’s office is located. Ten heavily armed men jumped out, surrounded the police patrol car, and dragged Navarro out before shooting him.

Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) said Navarro had gunshot wounds in the head, shoulders, and arms.

Navarro's police escort, Corporal Eutemeo Catalan, was also shot in the foot while three of his personal aides also reportedly sustained injuries.

De Leon said it is likely that the assailants were hired killers. They are still checking the surveillance footage and talking to witnesses to see “how precise the movements” were.

He said they cannot say just yet that there were lapses on the part of the police as investigation is still ongoing.

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella also called on Cebu City Police Director Gemma Vinluan to investigate the incident.

"Regardless of whoever is the victim, whether criminal, innocent civilian or whoever, it has to be investigated," he said, considering that the ambush happened in Cebu City.

"It is something that we all are concerned because it is in our territorial jurisdiction," he said.

THREATS

Quoting Navarro’s family, Vinluan told reporters yesterday that Navarro has received death threats in Mindanao.

"May mga grupo daw allegedly na nagbibigay mismo ng threat. They received threats sa mga certain groups… kung sino, ayaw ko lang munang sabihin (They reportedly received threats from some groups… I will not say which once just yet)" Vinluan said.

Because of the threats, Navarro’s security in Clarin reportedly had to be heightened.

Vinluan said Navarro was listed as a High Value Target.

De Leon has appointed PRO-7 Deputy Director for Operation Geovanie Maines to supervise the investigation.

"The Police Regional Office 7 is not discounting the possibility that the perpetrators of Mayor Navarro's killing could be his former and present associates underground while, of course not discounting the possibility of politics," De Leon. JMO ( FREEMAN)