CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is eyeing drug-related and personal grudges behind the shooting to death of a barangay tanod across Zapatera polling center.
The night of the election day Monday, Lorega barangay tanod Brian Mabagawas shot by unidentified assailants while on duty in Zapatera polling center.
"Accordingly, naa sya sa drug personality pero di pa sya ma confirm, wala pa nato ma confirm na kung unsa katinuod," said Lt. Colonel Wilbert Parilla, deputy director for operations of CCPO.
The police are currently leaning their investigations towards this angle as they received reports of the victim’s alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
Aside from this, they are also looking at the angle of personal grudge.
Parilla also said that the victim was once targeted in a shooting incident in Barangay Lorega last month.
"Gi-attempt sad ni sya og pusil unya ang naigo ang napusilan, naalaan iyang ig-agaw, so it might be personal sa iyaha or ato ni i-check ang allegations," said Parilla.
The police also cannot conclude yet that the incident was election-related although the victim was serving for the 2022 polls. According to Parilla, they still have to determine the motive to categorize the incident as election-related.
Currently, the police gathered information that the unknown assailant has a motorcycle on standby as his getaway vehicle.
"So far wala pa gyud mohatag og concrete, ga sige pa og investigate," said Parilla. — GMR (FREEMAN)