Unidentified men stalk Cuizon at the hospital

Labor leader Antonio Cuizon, who cheated death during an ambush early this week, wants more police assistance for his safety following reports that several suspicious looking men were spotted at the hospital where he is presently confined.

Cuizon yesterday requested the police to augment his security because the unidentified men were reportedly seen monitoring the movement of his family inside the hospital.

This developed as Cebu provincial intelligence chief Lemuel Obon said they are moving to a "clearer direction" in their investigation into the ambush of Cuizon.

Obon told The FREEMAN yesterday afternoon that they already knew the group responsible for the incident and are now eyeing the present conflict with former workers of Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation as the motive of the attempt on Cuizon's life.

"Kana ra gyud maoy possibility. Dakong porsyento man gyud nang away sa mga former workers didto sa Atlas," Obon said, adding one of the four gunmen identified by Cuizon was tagged in previous incidents at the mining firm.

But even with the identification of one of the gunmen, a case could not be filed since Cuizon does not know the gunman's name, thus, no affidavit could be executed.

"Usa ra man gyud iyang nailhan . We do not know the names yet. Mao g'yud nay nakadugay," Obon admitted.

He said they are now trying to identify the three other gunmen through pictures of former workers of Atlas.

Last Wednesday night, Obon told The FREEMAN that Cuizon had identified one of his four assailants when one of them crossed the street before firing at him during the ambush.

Obon said the two witnesses who saw the gunmen's faces agreed with Cuizon's identification of one of the perpetrators.

Cuizon, 49, the president of the Panaghiusa sa Mamumuo sa Atlas, was wounded during an ambush Monday morning in sitio Gaway-gaway, barangay Uling, Naga while driving his dark gray Toyota Corolla for Toledo City with his mother, two aunts and two grand children, who were unhurt.

He earlier accused another labor leader, Marcos Billones, and his members for the incident. But Billones denied the allegation, saying they would prefer to settle through legal means whatever conflict they have with Cuizon's group. - Ryan P. Borinaga