Cops now have names of possible suspects in Cortes murder

CEBU, Philippines — Investigators have gathered names in the murder of radio commentator Rey Cortes, who was shot dead in a broad daylight on Thursday, July 22.

This development is based on the result of the investigation the Special Investigation and Task Group (SITG) conducted earlier yesterday. The team is headed by Police Colonel Josefino Ligan, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, deputy director of CCPO, said that right after their meeting with the SITG, they also had a meeting with the Presidential Task Force in Media Security.

"And then ganinang buntag during the meeting, all the members of the SITG is given time this Thursday to submit all the documents considering all the documents considering some of the certifications especially sa medico-legal and results of ballistics, is not yet given," said Parilla.

"So it will be finalized on Thursday," he added.

Currently, Parilla said they have already extracted pieces of evidence from the CCTV footage that might be of help in the investigation.

"Duna na ta'y mga persons of interest nga gi-focus kung posible ba nga mahimo nato nga suspects," said Parilla.

These lists of individuals were gathered over the angle of having a job-related motive behind the incident.

Secondly, they were also listed according to their personal involvement with Cortes' life.

Among those that the SITG along with the Presidential Task Force has been looking into is also the information they received that Cortes has been involved in cockfighting.

Further, Parilla also said they were having a hard time getting witnesses to the incident.

"Even we are requesting the family nga makuha unta nato iyang personal nga cellphone so that we can also exploit whatever unsay naa didto, dako kaayo ni makatabang og makuha nato," said Parilla.

The two close-in bodyguards of Cortes who personally witnessed the murder have also released their statement before the investigators.

To recall, Parilla said they have included Cortes' two close-in bodyguards in the investigation as requested by Cortes' wife.

"Wala tay nakuha nga armas sa close-in, so isa na sa atong gi-consider," said Parilla.

Cortes was shot dead by still unknown perpetrator in a broad daylight outside the DYRB Radio station shortly after he finished his program, “Engkwentro”. — GMR (FREEMAN)