Security at Apuras’ house beefed up

CEBU, Philippines — Police have shored up security at the Apuras’ residence in Carcar City following Monday’s attempt on the life of Anthony John Apura, president of the city’s Association of Barangay Councils.

Anthony, 38, is the son of incumbent Carcar City Mayor Mercedita Apura and Vice Mayor Nicepuro Apura. Police said Anthony lives with his parents.

“Nag-deploy tayo ng uniformed personnel sa residence nila, magpapatrolya-patrolya... Minimum is dalawa (We have deployed at least two police personnel to patrol their house),” Lt. Colonel Alan Rosario, chief of Carcar City Police Station, told The FREEMAN yesterday.

“(The patrols will be) 24/7. Not necessarily naman na doon talaga sila mag-stand by. Magpapatrolya sila doon sa residence at saka doon sa kung saan sila nagwo-work sa City Hall (It’s not necessary that the security details lurk. They will just patrol the residence and the City Hall where the Apuras work),” he added.

Anthony and companion Vergil Bacus had just got into the former’s car after dining at a restaurant in Sitio Tungasan, Barangay Valladolid at around 3:45 p.m. Monday when unidentified assailants on board a car fired shots at the two.

Apart from the scratches they got from ducking and crawling in the car, the two did not sustain other injuries.

After the shooting, the assailants’ car was reportedly seen moving towards the northern direction.

Authorities are eyeing business and politics as possible motives, although Rosario emphasized that investigation is still ongoing.

“Kasi nga politician siya, tinitingnan natin na anggulo ang politika. Negosyante rin siya kaya tinitingnan rin natin yung business na anggulo, so lahat tinitingnan natin (He is a politician, so we are looking at politics. He is also a businessman, so we’re also looking at that. We’re looking at all possible angles),” said Rosario.

Anthony reportedly owns a trucking business.

To get leads, police are checking whether closed circuit television cameras nearby may have captured the incident.

“But doon along the road may mga nakita kaming CCTV. Ni-redeem namin yun. May nakita kaming mga sasakyan but ipapa-confirm pa namin yun sa mga witnesses kung yun ba talaga ang sasakyan ng perpetrator (Along the road, there was a CCTV. We asked for the footages. We saw a vehicle but we have yet to let witnesses confirm if it was the one used by the perpetrator),” said Rosario.

Since the assailant or assailants were boarding a car, the police chief said they cannot establish yet the number of attackers.

Rosario said that Anthony and the witnesses have been cooperative with the police in the investigation.

Anthony reportedly told the police that he had not received death threats recently. — JMD (FREEMAN)