Cops now identified Tabanao’s gunman

CEBU, Philippines - Police have already identified the man who gunned down Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 agent Jessie Tabanao.

“As regard sa gunman, we have that already. He was positively identified by three witnesses,” said Chief Insp. Romeo Santander.

Santander, who heads City Intelligence Branch, which is part of Special Investigation Tabanao Task Group, withheld the gunman’s identity as they are still working for his arrest.

He revealed that the gunman is a hitman of a drug syndicate but said that they will still gather affidavits of the three witnesses who manifested willingness to testify.

The witness, Santander said, saw the gunman shoot Tabanao along Escario Street on the night of September 14.

“Wala siya naka-full face helmet so nakit-an ang iyang nawong,” Santander disclosed to reporters yesterday.  The CIB chief said they are hopeful to file charges against the suspect this week.

Santander said based on witnesses’ account, Tabanao met a man some 30 seconds before he was killed while the gunman was on the opposite road.

“A matter of 20 to 30 seconds, nag-storya sila, then kadtong ni-open si Jessie sa rear door sa iyang sakyanan, mao na to’y paghawa sa iyang kastorya, then nilabang ang gunman. Mao to’y cue. Didto niya gi-execute ang pagpusil kang Jessie,” he narrated.

Apparently, the gunman and the man who talked with Tabanao were in connivance, he said.

Considering the length of time they talked, Tabanao and the man knew each other, he added.

“Mutabang pa unta pud siya kung kaila g’yud sila kay nakabati pa man siya sa buto-buto,” Santander theorized.

He said they have not yet identified the man but they already have descriptions of him.

He said they are still pursuing work-related angle in the incident.

The task force is set to turn over Tabanao’s Strada to his wife Katrina, who visited the CIB office yesterday to inquire about the case.

“We gave the assurance to Katrina na if ever in the box na tanan, amo silang i-brief about the case,” said Santander.

He said Katrina divulged information that may be helpful to the case.

At past 11 p.m. on Sept. 14, Tabanao stopped at commercial complex along Escario Street before supposedly proceeding to I.T. Park to fetch his pregnant wife when a man opened fire at him.

He was killed him on the spot. — (FREEMAN)