Dumanjug gets new police chief

CEBU, Philippines - A day after the killing of an American National in Dumanjug last Friday, Cebu Provincial Police Office director Jesus Gaquing relieved the town’s police chief, transferring the latter to Carcar City. 

Effective October 3, former Carcar Police Station chief Arnulfo Lastimoso assumed the post vacated by Dumanjug police chief Patrocenio Baylosis and given the task to solve the killing of John Walter Suke, 64, a resident of barangay Lawaan, Dumanjug who was killed at 3:45 p.m. last Friday in an ambush.

Gaquing said they are eyeing a gun-for-hire group as the perpetrators of the crime and believe personal grudge was the motive behind the incident.

The police official explained he chose Lastimoso to be Dumanjug’s police chief as he lives in the nearby town of Alcantara and he believed that he is more knowledgeable of the place than Baylosis.

Gaquing also believes Lastimoso could solve the crime and give justice to the victim.

Right after receiving the report on the killing of Suke, Gaquing immediately sent personnel from the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) and the Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) to help in the investigation.

The CPPO director said they had a hard time contacting Dumanjug police because its telephone was malfunctioning, and when he contacted one of the policemen assigned there, he learned that Baylosis went home to Alegria even if the investigation on the killing is still going on.

Suke was driving his Hi-Ace motorcycle with plate numbers NR-208 along the national highway on Sitio Lumboy, Barangay Cambuwang, Dumanjug when two unidentified motorcycle riding men shot him several times, hitting his chest and head. He was declared dead on arrival at Barili District Hospital. – Gabriel C. Bonjoc/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)