On recent killings in metro: “Series” tag incorrect - Cops

CEBU, Philippines — There recent spate of killings in Metro Cebu cannot be called a “series” because they do not necessarily form a pattern, the police said yesterday.

“Siguro, napagdikit-dikit lang ang mga incidents but you cannot lump them into one. Each has its own circumstance. Mayroong personal grudges, mayroong related sa work nila… you cannot say na this is a series of killings and people would speculate na merong pattern,” said Police Chief Supt. Robert Quenery, the chief of the Police Regional Office (PRO) - 7.

In fact, Quenery said, the number of shooting incidents in Central Visayas in the first quarter of 2018 is lower compared to the number of incident in the same period last year.

Last year, Region 7 had 170 murder cases and 32 homicide cases. This year, the region had 135 murder cases and 33 homicide cases.

“There is no pattern in these killings. Each incident is unique in itself kaya isolated cases,” Quenery added.

He reiterated that there is no reason for the public to be alarmed.

“There's no need to be alarmed. These are all isolated cases and we are doing our best to solve the crimes that have been committed,” he said, adding, that murder and homicide are not even in the Top 3 most prevalent crimes in Central Visayas.

“So, please, do not lump this into a series of killings. If you will see the data this year, it’s still safer. Bumaba lahat ng index crimes,” Quenery said.

He said the cases are still under investigation because getting witnesses has been a challenge.

Perhaps the most prominent case is the killing of lawyer and Ronda vice mayor Jonnah John Ungab. He was shot dead after attending a hearing in Cebu City.

“This is not a math problem, that what happens today solve it tomorrow. It really has to be a tedious, rigorous examination of facts. Nagiging mahirap pa lalo kapag walang tumatayong testigo. But I hope we will have a breakthrough on this,” Quenery said.

He also said it is unfair to speculate that the series of shooting incidents in Cebu has something to do with the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte last month that someone will be gunned down.

“It’s unfair. Huwag namang ganoon,” he said.

Mactan incident

Meanwhile, police are eyeing drugs as the reason behind the death of three men who were killed by motorcycle-riding assailants in Sitio Dumpsite-Soong Center, Barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City last Thursday night.

Inspector Wilfredo Rodriguez, chief of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) – Homicide Section, said there is also a possibility that the three men were hitmen and that the other gun-for-hire individuals have gunned them down for silence.

“May purohan sad nga gibirahan pud para pahilumon sa hitman, kay naa man armas. Moigo man gud ang kining gibirahan karon. Di ta kaingon kung gibira sila kay nakuan lang sa negosyo sa drugas. Basin gibirahan sad kay tungod sa teritoryo,” Rodriguez told reporters yesterday.

Reno Egos, 27, a resident of Sitio Ibapo, Barangay Mactan and Orbel Inihao of Barangay Maribago are the victims of the incident.

Egos was newly released from Lapu-Lapu City Jail last March 21. He has a previous case of drugs and illegal possession of firearms.

Police are yet to know if Egos was under their drug watch-list or was a drug surrenderer, said Rodriguez said.

The third victim has yet to be identified but Rodriguez received information that the latter was said to be a resident of Lilo-an, Cebu because they found out the motorcycle (Yamaha Crypton Z with plate number 4012 GH) they all have ridden on was a stolen one, which was registered under Ronan D. Caadlaon, who hails from the said town.

Caadlaon has reported it the police after he lost his motorcycle, according to Rodriguez.

But according to a report from Balitang Bisdak yesterday, the third victim was identified as the 32-year-old Zaldy Cadungog from Barangay Canjulao.

Based on investigation, Rodriguez said at least four men attacked the victims around 7:20 p.m. which led to their instant death.

“Duha ka motor nga naay duha ka tawo matag sakay,” he said.

A .45 caliber pistol with a fully-loaded live ammunition round, a .9mm pistol with 14 live ammunition allegedly owned by Egos, and two .357 revolver with six .38 live ammunition each were the firearms recovered in the crime scene.

At least 21 empty cartridges of a .9mm pistol were also recovered in the same area.

Police are also considering that vigilantes are behind the incident but this is a “remote possibility.”

“Pero layo ra nang vigilantes. Wala man ta’y na monitor. Gi consider (nato) pero remote ang posibilidad nga mao na siya,” Rodriguez said.

He added that they have received information that these three victims were said to be involved in previous shooting incidents in Cordova, Cebu, which will be included in their follow-up investigation.

This information has yet to be verified, Rodriguez said, who requested to the PNP Regional Crime Laboratory that the firearms recovered from the crime scene will be subjected to a cross-matching.

“Nag-conduct pa mi’g investigation, daghan pang anggulo ang among gisusi,” he said.

In Mandaue City, 47-year-old Jose Freddie Cortes was shot by one of the three unknown assailants in Villa Fatima in Sitio Sudlon, Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City around 12:50 a.m. yesterday.

Police Officer 2 Louie Menchavez of Mandaue City Police Office- Station 4 said that based on their investigation, Cortes, who is alleged to be a newly-identified drug personality, was sleeping around midnight when he heard a knock in the main door of his house and went to check who knocking.

By the time Cortes opened the door, the unidentified gunman shot him at close range on the head, while his two companions reportedly wearing bonnets has served as a “look-out” watched him die on the spot.

According to witnesses, the assailants fled with two motorcycles that were on standby near the victim’s house heading to the city’s national highway road. Police are currently doing a follow-up investigation about the incident. — /JMO (FREEMAN)