Mandaue puts up P100T reward: Yu slay bares cop shortfalls

The ambush-slaying last Thursday of Mandaue City businessman and presidential friend Wilson Yu has inadvertently exposed the sorry state of the police in that city.

In a meeting called by Mayor Thadeo Ouano a day after the killing, Mandaue City police officials not only admitted they are still clueless in their investigation, they also bemoaned their lack of resources and support from Camp Crame.

Superintendent Emmanuel Ughoc, the deputy director for operations of the Mandaue City police, told Ouano that this lack of support and resources is affecting the capacity of the police to maintain peace and order in that city.

Yu, 45, owns Wam Manufacturing and Development Corporation, a company that sells furniture and surplus vehicles. He was on his way to his office Thursday morning when waylaid by three men, one of whom peppered him with bullets from a .45 caliber pistol.

But while police in Mandaue City are still clueless about the incident, Mayor Tomas Osmena of nearby Cebu City said he believes it the killing was not the result of a plain robbery but was in fact a liquidation.

" This is something that we're very concerned about because he used to be a resident of Cebu City. And based on the information I received, it was not a robbery. It was a gun for hire. The victim was probably put under surveillance. It was a hit job, " Osmena said.

Nevertheless, Osmena believes there is a connection between the killing and an earlier incident in which an employee of Yu was shot and robbed of $14,000 by motorcycle-riding men.

The killers of Yu also used a motorcycle in their getaway.

Yu has been an active campaigner for Arroyo in the last election and the president promptly ordered PNP chief Arturo Lomibao to expedite the investigation and bring the killers of her friend and supporter to justice.

In yesterday's meeting, Ouano and Eric Mendoza, president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, announced they were putting up a P100,000 reward for information on the identity of the killers.

In the same meeting, Ughoc said all six precincts under the Mandaue City police sorely lack vehicles, firearms and radio equipment.

Ouano himself admitted that the 265-man strong Mandaue City police department cannot adequately protect the city's population of more than 300,000.

Presidential assistant for Central Visayas Felix Guanzon however assured Ouano and police officials that he will make representation with higher police officials to take immediate action to boost the capabilities of the Mandaue City police.

Ouano said the city government is allocating a yearly financial assistance to the police in the amount of P7 million but apparently this is not enough.

The mayor said the city needs P2.7 million more just to renew the lease on several vehicles being used by the police to augment its mobility.

Mendoza said the killing of Yu will not affect the business climate of the city but acknowledged the need for the business sector to actively provide support to the police.

The Kiwanis Club of Cebu, of which Yu was a former president, condemned the killing.

It also found the killing ironic since the club has been conducting a yearly search for most outstanding policemen.

" The club's insistence in going on with the search despite the odds reflects our belief in encouraging and rewarding goodness and justice and that is what we are asking for Wilson - justice, " the club said in a statement. - Jose Sollano, Cristina Birondo