Former police official killed

CEBU, Philippines —  A retired police official was killed in an ambush by still unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen Friday morning, January 8, 2021, in Cabantan Street, Barangay Luz, Cebu City.

Police identified the victim as retired Lt. Col. Renato Malazarte, former deputy director for administration of Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO). Malazarte was walking toward his vehicle parked outside his residence to deliver butane canisters when the shooting happened.

"Base sa among nakuha nga information, duha daw ni ka tawo (suspects) nga nagsakay sa usa ka motor nga itom daw pero dili siya kabisado kay walay plate number," said Police Master Sergeant Nicolo Gonzales of the Mabolo Police Station.

(Based on the information we gathered, there were two suspects riding a black motorcycle without plate number)

 Police investigators are gathering CCTV footages from the establishments in the area to help them identify the perpetrators.

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director Police Colonel Josefino Ligan has directed the Mabolo Police Station chief to look into the background of Malazarte to help them determine the motive behind the killing.

Ligan explained that profiling the victim will help investigators identify the people who might have the motive to kill him. The police also need the cooperation of the family to determine if the victim received prior threats. 

As of yesterday, Ligan admitted that they are still facing a blank wall in their investigation. However, Malazarte’s work as former police officer is one of the angles that the investigators are looking into.

Malazarte retired from the police service sometime around 2018 to 2019. Before his retirement, he was one of those reassigned outside of Police Regional Office-7 after the 2016 elections.

Malazarte was reassigned to Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) from 2016 to 2017.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has ordered the CCPO to conduct a thorough investigation into Malazarte's death. The mayor wants the police to arrest the perpetrators as soon as possible.

"They should not be allowed to be free specially killing our law enforcers just like what happened to our lawyers," Labella said. — FPL (FREEMAN)