Police still clueless on Talisay ambush

CEBU, Philippines - Probers are facing a blank wall in the killing of two persons by riding-in-tandem assailants in Barangay Lawaan I, Talisay City, Cebu last Thursday morning.

Businesswoman Maria Luisa Lapinid survived the ambush while her sister-in-law Lorna Lapinid, 53, and driver Fritz Cobong, 45, died on the spot after suffering gunshot wounds.

Superintendent Germano Mallari, Talisay City Police Station chief, said they have no hint yet as to the identities of the gunmen. He said, though, that they are looking at the attacks possible connection with Maria Luisa’s husband, Wilfredo, who is a retired police official last assigned at the Police Regional Office-7.

Mallari already set aside money conflict as possible motive behind the attack.

“Ang motibo nga utang ato nang gitangtang kay P2,000 ra man ang utang sa taxi driver unya kani si Lorna Lapinid was only a caretaker of Maria Luisa’s house,” Mallari said.

With this findings, Mallari concentrated on the angle of Maria Luisa’s husband, Wilfredo.

“Nagtuo siguro ang suspects (gunmen) nga ang nag-drive ang bana ni Maria Luisa. The target unta sa mga suspects was Wilfredo,” he surmised.

At the Talisay City Hall, Mayor Johnny De los Reyes urged the police to speed up the investigation and solve the case.  He wanted that police checkpoints be instituted not only at nighttime but “all the time.”

The Cebu Provincial Police Office will also help in the investigation, said Senior Superintendent Noel Gillamac.

He said he already directed the CPPO Provincial Intelligence Branch and the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch to assist Talisay City police in the investigation.

Gillamac said the purpose of the directive was to solve the case immediately to assuage the fear of the public and of those who are from other provinces planning to visit Cebu.

“Sulbaron gyud as soon as possible time kay it will create fear among residents or people from other provinces nga moanhi sa Cebu. Like kato nila, from Ormoc to sila nga ni travel diri sa Cebu,” said Gillamac.

A businesswoman, Maria Luisa owns a farm in Ormoc City. She, Lorna, and Cobong were on their way to Guadalupe Church in Cebu City around 9:40 a.m. when attacked in Lawaan I.

Gillamac said on Monday, they will have a command conference together with the Talisay Police Station investigators wherein he directed the acting chief, Superintendent Germano Mallari, to present the development of the case. – Garry B. Lao, Ma. Fatima R. Secuya/RHM (FREEMAN)