Court compound shooting ‘an isolated case’

CEBU, Philippines - A top official of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office has assured Mayor Paz Radaza and the public that the recent shooting of a businessman and former aspiring village chief at the Hall of Justice compound was an isolated incident.

Lapu-Lapu City Police Office acting director Senior Superintendent Armando Radoc said they are doing their best to improve the peace and order in the city amid the recent killing of  Jaime Daño.

Daño, 47, was gunned down by one of two unidentified men onboard a white motorcycle before noon on Tuesday.

An owner of shell craft business, Daño lost in his bid for barangay captain of Punta Engaño in the last 2013 elections where Lourdes Ibag was proclaimed winner.

Radoc claimed that Daño’s killing would not affect the tourism industry of the city as it was, he said, an isolated case.

The police official also downplayed reports that there were no policemen deployed at the crime scene.

He said what matters was their “swift response” to the scene, reinforced by a hot pursuit operation by members of Special Weapons and Tactics Unit which unfortunately turned futile.

“While it is true that it is near our headquarters, (the shooting) was unexpected. It was a matter of seconds. What happened was very unfortunate,” Radoc said. 

Radoc described the execution of the crime as “well-planned.”

Investigation is still ongoing to determine the mastermind of the killing.

Police Senior Inspector Zenaido Pastorfide, chief of LLCPO Homicide Section, has already reviewed the footages of the closed-circuit television camera installed in one of the food stalls near the crime scene.

Radoc also said they have coordinated with the wife of the victim as part of the follow-up investigation.

He said they have not received any reports of death threats from Daño or from his family.

The police are currently eyeing personal, business and political angles as possible motives into the shooting.  (FREEMAN)