CEBU, Philippines — A Cebuano police official based in Jolo, Sulu who is the father of a Sangguniang Kabataan official in Cebu City was shot dead while on board his motorcycle at the North Reclamation Area yesterday afternoon.
The victim was identified as Police Captain Delfin Bontuyan, a former investigator of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7. He is the father of Talamban SK chairperson Christine Bontuyan who earlier cried harassment by suspicious-looking men during the last elections
Bontuyan was in Cebu to attend a hearing of a drug case that was filed when he was still with CIDG-7.
Initial investigation showed that Bontuyan came from the hearing and stopped at a red light on Pope John Paul Avenue when four men on board two motorcycles stopped beside him and shot him.
Witness Michael Añora, 47, told authorities the gunfire came from two suspects, one of whom allegedly fired at least four shots.
The taxi that was right beside Bontuyan’s motorcycle was also hit. Fortunately, the driver and passenger are safe but, as of yesterday, were traumatized by what happened.
Cebu City Police Director Royina Garma said Bontuyan handled several drug cases in the past and several of these cases have reportedly been dismissed.
She said she has directed a background check on Bontuyan, including the cases he handled in the past, to help in the investigation.
Police Major Miles Damoslog of the Mabolo Police said they are eyeing at Bontuyan’s work as a policeman as motive in the killing.
Bontuyan was transferred to Jolo in 2016 from CIDG-7 at the height of the drug war. He was chief of operation at CIDG here.
Prior to that, he was assigned at the Talamban Police Station.
Bontuyan is the father of Christine Bontuyan, chairperson of the Sangguniang Kabataan in Barangay Talamban in Cebu City.
At the crime scene yesterday, his daughter could not help but break down at the sight of her father covered in blood.
"Pa, wake up na, Pa. Let's go home. I love you Pa… Mupaso pa man ko di ba? Mu-graduate pa ko… ma-lawyer ko, niya mo-retire ka (Pa, wake up. Let’s go home, Pa. I would still graduate, right? I’ll be a lawyer and you’ll retire from work)," Christine said in between tears.
Christine, who is currently in law school, was one those who accused the city police of harassment during the last elections.
In her Facebook post, she alleged that some suspicious-looking men apprehended her companions who manned the voter’s assistance center of the Bando-Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan in Lahug at the height of the polls.
The incident happened after Garma allegedly held inquiry some BOPK supporters in the area.
However, her companions were later released. – JMO (FREEMAN)