‘Politics not drugs behind exec’s slay’

CEBU, Philippines —  Police are considering politics as the primary motive in the killing of Lagtang, Talisay City councilman Art Stephen Bas.

Police Superintendent Marlu Conag, chief of Talisay City Police, said the victim’s family believed that their political rivals might have orchestrated the ambush.

“Nakausap na natin ang nanay noong biktima at iyun nga ang sinabi niya, political daw since katatapos lang din ng eleksiyon,” he said.

However, police are also not discounting other possible motives, including illegal drugs and personal grudge.

“Hindi pa din natin matanggal iyun. Titingnan pa din natin lahat para sa pagka-solve ng kaso ngunit mas mabigat na ngayon sa political. Alam na din naman ng lahat na involved sa politics ang kanilang family,” Conag said.

Bas, 25, was driving a white Ford Everest to school at around 8 a.m. Friday when he was waylaid by three unidentified assailants onboard two motorcycles while traversing the Cebu South Coastal Road in Sitio Bihonan, Barangay Cansojong, Talisay City.

The two motorcycles “sandwiched” Bas’ vehicle and the assailants fired at him before speeding off towards the direction of Cebu City.

Witnesses said one of the assailants opened the driver’s door after the attack and fired more shots at the victim as if ensuring he would be dead.

Bas succumbed to several gunshot wounds to different parts of his body.

A total of 15 empty shells of caliber .45 were recovered by the team of Scene of the Crimes Operatives (SOCO) from the scene.

Stephen was supposed to graduate this year with a degree in mechanical engineering from a university in Cebu City.

He is a grandson of Talisay City Councilor Arturo Bas and son of former Lagtang, Talisay City barangay captain Marc Ferdinand “Dindin” Bas, who was among the three “narco officials” from Cebu identified by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency back in May.

Ferdinand was arrested in a raid conducted by operatives of Cebu Provincial Police Office last April in which he yielded a gun, hand grenade, and ammunition. He was among the 207 alleged narco-politicians in the country, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Mistaken identity?

Moreover, Conag clarified that the killing was not a case of mistaken identity.

“Ang sabi ng nanay ay matagal na silang hiwalay noong ama (Ferdinand) ni Stephen at common knowledge ng lahat na ang victim ang gumagamit ng sasakyan so malabo na mistaken identity ang nangyari,” he said.

He said they are still gathering more CCTV footages from the area that may help identify the attackers.

At present, police were able to gather surveillance footages, but blurry.

Conag has urged the public and witnesses to help police identify the suspects.

“So far, puru lang mga hearsay iyung mga pinaghahawakan natin, hindi naman iyun tanggap. May witness naman daw pero tumakbo din pagkatapos dahil sa takot,” he said.

“We urge the witnesses to speak up and help solve this crime,” he added. — KBQ (FREEMAN)