CEBU, Philippines — The Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 has encouraged the kin of two other victims in the ambush-slay of San Fernando Municipal Councilor Ricardo Reluya Jr. to file a case.
PRO-7 Chief Debold Sinas said that they are holding off the filing of the charges related to the incident, as they need more affidavits from the family members of Ricky Monterona and Allan Bayot.
Cases of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder will be filed initially to two known suspects, Felix Abacajan Jr. and Jerome Labitad.
"Dili na kinahanglan motudlo sa suspect, but willingness lang to prosecute whoever is the mastermind para makauban sa complaint. Maayo if usahon, but if dili gyud ang family, ayaw na lang," he said.
The investigators plan to file the case by next week, if the family of Monterona and Bayot fail to accomplish the necessary documents.
Last January 22, at least five men on board a Toyota Innova ambushed the Toyota Grandia the victims were riding with gunshots.
Ricardo, Bayot and Monterona died in the incident.
San Fernando, Cebu Mayor Lakambini Reluya, Giovanni Perez and Jefer Tolentin survived.
Last February 6, Sinas and Cebu Provincial Police Office Chief Manuel Abrugena announced that the two suspects were identified by Perez, the mayor's staff who survived the attack based on a rogue's gallery shown.
Perez's testimony given to investigators indicated that Labitad and Abacajan were speaking to each other.
Labitad reportedly has links with high-profile drug lord's group of Steve Go and Franz Sabalones, before he established his own criminal group involved in illegal-drugs, and gun-for-hire activities.
He is also the number one most wanted person in Talisay.
Abacajan, a barangay councilor in Maghaway, Talisay City, is allegedly also a member of the Sabalones drug group. Labitad is his nephew.
So far, the police have first-hand testimonies of the survivors and the results of the ballistic examination as evidence.
The fired cartridges of an M16 of the Reluya ambush-slay in Sitio Linao, Talisay City was identical to the M16 that Labitad and Felix Abacajan left behind during the encounter last January 29. — GAN (FREEMAN)