Five persons eyed in lawyer’s death

CEBU, Philippines — At least five persons have been tagged by police as persons of interest (POIs) in the murder of lawyer Baby Maria Concepcion Landero-Ole.

The Danao City Police Station is looking into at least five POIs – four onboard two motorcycles and one onboard a vehicle-- who may be involved in the broad daylight shooting of Ole on Thursday, December 17.

Police Major Maria Theresa Macatangay, Danao City Police chief, said the POIs’ vehicles were tailing the vehicle of Ole from the court all the way to the highway.

“Naa tay mga naki-an sa atong mga CCTV (closed-circuit television) footages nga mga vehicles gasunod, ga-tail sa sakyanan nga gi-drayban ni Atty. Ole gikan sa court padung sa highway,” said Macatangay.

Based on the CCTV footages the police obtained, around three vehicles including one four-wheeled vehicle and two motorcycles were tailing the lawyer.

Macatangay said they will be recommending for the formation of special investigation task group (SITG) to the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) to look into Ole’s killing.

The police chief said they are also looking into the possible connection of Ole’s death to that of her husband and suspected drug lord, Wanito, who was killed in May this year.

Ole, a resident of Barangay Taboc, Danao City, was shot by two motorcycle-riding men while she was driving her white pick-up along the national highway in Barangay Looc around 2:50 p.m. on Thursday.

Witnesses told police that the assailants shot the victim several times and immediately fled the crime scene heading to the south.

Less than a month, Atty. Joey Luis Wee was also killed in a broad daylight outside his office building in Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu Chapter condemned the killing of Ole and Wee citing that the attack is not only against the life of an officer of the court but also an assault to the legal profession and to the rule of law.

In a related development, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said he was saddened by the tragic death of Ole and Wee.

“We pray for the family of the victims to have the strength as they go about the pain of losing their loved ones,” he said.

The prelate reminded the people not to take the law into own hands.

“They should not take law in their hands. They should adhere to and respect the rule of the law,” he added. — Rowena D. Capistrano, KQD (FREEMAN)