On Feliciano’s murder: Partner tells police, business as the ‘nearest motive’

CEBU, Philippines — The police are looking into the business dealings of Ruben Feliciano as possible motive for his murder.

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Josefino Ligan said Feliciano’s live-in partner emphasized the business angle as the nearest motive behind the killing.

"Sumala pa niya, iyahang gi-emphasize ang business angle ra gyud maoy pinakaduol nga hinungdan nga motibo sa pagpatay, other than that wala na," said Ligan.

Though Ligan said they will still look at all angles including the politics considering that Feliciano was a former mayoralty candidate in the town of San Fernando.

He stressed that it has been a while since the 2019 midterm elections and that Feliciano's business dealings and personal dealings will now factor in.

Ligan said that Kim Feliciano, the nephew of Ruben who survived the shooting, did not disclose as to where they came from prior to the incident.

“Atong gi-emphasize sa pag-umangkon nga kun asa mo gikan para pwede nato subayon sa inyong giagian basin unya'g nasundan mo atong van, at least makuha nato," he said.

The CCPO will conduct a threat assessment of Feliciano but initially Ligan said there is no report that he had one.

“In fact wala gani siya'y security. Perhaps, wala gyud siya'y threat. Ato pang tan-awon gyud kay supposedly naa siya'y security kun naa siya'y threat. We'll be making threat assessment lang sa iyaha," he said.

Feliciano was shot dead by still unidentified perpetrators outside his rented apartment in Barangay Apas, Cebu City last Friday.

He and Kim were the victims of the first shooting incident in Cebu City this year.

Feliciano died on the spot as he sustained two gunshot wounds to the right side of his body and to the arm while Kim was rushed to the hospital for treatment. — GMR (FREEMAN)