Babag captain eyes business as motive

CEBU, Philippines - After the attempt to kill him Wednesday, the barangay captain of Babag, Cebu City believes that the motive behind the incident could be business related.

Barangay Captain Cesar Dolorito said he runs a land consultancy business nationwide since 2007. As land consultant, he would finance those who ask for his help with their land problems.

“Ako ang mogasto. Apil na ana ang ilang pagkuha og abogado unya ako ang mag-research sa mga dokumento nga ipasa sa court,” said Dolorito.

 “So naa siguro ta’y natabangan nga nakadaog unya nasuko ang kontra. Mao siguro ni ang motibo. Di pud nako masulti kinsa kay akong business sa Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao man ni. Di lang kay region seven,” he added.

Dolorito yesterday coordinated with the City Intelligence Branch to explain why he hired personal body guards.

He said he received in January a text message saying, “Isa’ng bala ka lang.” He received another threat last month from a different phone number saying, “Dili na ka pabuntagan.”

Dolorito admitted he had no idea who could be the people behind these threats. Dolorito said he reported the threats to the police and immediately hired personal bodyguards.

It was Dolorito’s bodyguards who foiled the attempt on his life last Wednesday. They shoot it out with Dolorito’s would be assassins and hit one of them.

Froilan Orlanez sustained gunshot wound to his left foot resulting in his arrest. His companion, Charles Garces, was also arrested.

The third suspect, a certain Michael from Tabogon, who allegedly hired Orlanez and Garces, was able to elude arrest. The suspects said they were hired for P50,000 each to kill Dolorito.

Dolorito denied he owed P6 million to anybody. He was baffled why somebody from Tabogon wanted him killed when he did not have any transaction in the town.

“Ako lang iklaro nga wala koy tawo nga giperwisyo o gikautangan. Ila lang siguro na’ng gisulti aron malahi ang atong atensyon,” said Dolorito.

Superintendent Romeo Santander, CIB chief, confirmed that Garces’ statements were inconsistent because they found out that he was receiving instructions from a certain Roger and Tirol on the victim’s whereabouts as well as his physical description.

 “Gi-itemize nato tanan ang mga messages, unya konkreto gyud pag-ayo ang plano,” said Santander.

Santander said that based on the footage from the closed-circuit television camera installed in front of the building where Dolorito’s office was located, Gar-ces mistakenly shot Romeo Malise, one of the bodyguards, because he was wearing an orange shirt similar to that of Dolorito.

“Suwerte lang pud sa part ni kapitan kay ang backup ni kapitan nagkapareha sila og gisul-ob,” said Santander.

Garces tried to fire his gun at Dolorito three times but it did not work until the bodyguards noticed them.

On the fourth attempt, Garces was able to fire a shot but failed to hit the target. At this juncture, the bodyguards returned fire at the suspects, hitting Orlanez.

Garces and Orlanez will be charged with frustrated murder. A separate case for illegal possession of firearm and ammunitions will be filed against Garces today.  (FREEMAN)