Cop gunned down on Mactan bridge

CEBU - A policeman, who just attended a hearing in an illegal drug case at a Lapu-Lapu City court, was killed by two motorcycle riding men yesterday noon at the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.

PO2 Joseph Clint Cañete, 39, married with three children and a resident of barangay Alegria, Cordova town assigned at the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group (RAIDSOTG), sustained three gunshot wounds.

The assailants were riding a black Yamaha Crypton motorcycle.

SPO1 Ariston Bataluna Jr., an investigator of the Homicide section of the Mandaue City Police Office, yesterday said that the victim who was onboard a government-owned Honda Wave motorcycle with plate number SG-4241, came from the hearing of the case of a certain Edgar Palingcod at the RTC branch 54 in Lapu-Lapu city.

Bataluna said that the victim was on his way back to Cebu City after the hearing when he was gunned down.

Investigators learned that the person riding tandem was the one who shot Cañete hitting him thrice on his back and the bullets all exited at his chest.

When the victim fell, the killers sped off towards Mandaue City.

Bataluna said that Rondel Agbo, of barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City, who was onboard a passenger jeep saw how the victim was shot. He immediately got off the jeepney and stopped a taxi to bring Cañete to the nearby Cortes General Hospital where the policeman was declared dead on arrival.

Agbo said that the victim was still alive when he got to him and even had his 9 mm pistol drawn.

Witnesses told police that the two killers wore black helmets and black jackets.

The police tried to set up road blocks, but failed to make any arrest.

Witnesses said that the motorcycle used by the killers had the numbers 4977 on its plate, but they were not able to remember the letter preceding them.

SPO1 Ceilito Cañete, a brother of the victim and a member of the SWAT of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, said that the victim was the second of the four siblings and their parents have long migrated to the United States of America.

The victim had three children aged 17, 15 and 6 with his wife Charito, who is a former OFW.

The victim reportedly talked to his wife over the phone an hour before he was killed as they agreed to meet somewhere.

PO2 Cañete reportedly was to head to the bank to cash his check from the Air Materiel Wing Savings and Loan Association Inc. (AMWSLAI).

The crime scene police investigators were able to recover the AMWSLAI check, which was turned over to the victim’s wife along with the photocopy of his PNP ID and his AMWSLAI ID, which are required to cash the check.

Also recovered at the crime scene was Cañete’s Taurus 9 mm service pistol, 16 live ammunition, his brown wallet, three cellular phones, a set of affidavit with court records, handgun holster and his motorcycle which is now in the custody of the Investigation and Detective Management Bureau (IDMB).

The elder brother believes that his brother’s death has something to do with the arrests that he has made in drug related cases, which is a theory shared by the victim’s former superior.

Sr. Insp Alberto Abing, the former Chief of Police of Cordova town, said that when the victim was assigned in Cordova from 2002 to 2004, almost everyday, the victim together with PO3 Roger Abing, did buy bust operations.

Bataluna said that the killing being related to drugs is one of the angles that they are pursuing. They are also looking at the possibility that it is related to other aspects of his police work or it could be because of a personal grudge.

The victim was once awarded the “Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting” in 2006 after he was able to arrest an armed person in their place in barangay Alegria, Cordova.

Cañete was off duty when the barangay tanods of their place sought his assistance because of the presence of an armed person.

Although he was able to arrest the suspect, he was also shot once in his abdomen.

Acting MCPO director Vicente Mersan Premne said that their office is now coordinating with the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office under Sr. Supt. Mariano Natuel.

As police cordoned off the crime scene, traffic at the foot of the bridge was also snarled. – (/NLQ) (THE FREEMAN)