Sketches of Cinco gunmen out

The Task Force Cinco of the Western Police District yesterday released sketches of the two alleged trigger men in the gun slaying of Commission on Elections (Comelec) information chief Velma Cinco last Nov. 20.

One of the suspects was described by a male witness as between 39 to 45 years of age, brown complexion, about five-foot tall and of muscular built. The other suspect, who was sketched wearing a bonnet, was described to be of light built, about 35 to 40 years of age, about five-foot tall and of fair complexion.

According to Senior Superintendent Federico Castro, chief of the WPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) and spokesman for Task Force Cinco, the witness allegedly saw the two men waiting for someone at a gasoline station at the corner of Tejeron and Pedro Gil streets at about 7 a.m., on the day Cinco was killed.

Castro said the witness, a man who was waiting for a ride at that time, saw the two gunmen before they wore their bonnets, helmets and dark eyeglasses to hide their faces.

"The witness saw the suspects. He also saw that the men were armed with pistols. It was later in the afternoon that he heard the news that Cinco had been shot and killed just an hour after he saw the men," Castro said.

Earlier, National Bureau of Investigation Director Reynaldo Wycoco theorized that Cinco’s murder could have been sparked by infighting within the Comelec.

Cinco, 63, officer-in-charge of the Comelec’s Information and Education Department, was being driven by her son Carlo, 37, from their house to her office at about 8 a.m. aboard her red Kia car with plate number TDR-779 when their way was blocked by the gunmen aboard a motorcycle at the corner of Eden and Pedro Gil streets.

The gunmen immediately opened fire with 9 mm pistols. Cinco was hit several times in the face and body. Carlo sustained two bullet wounds in the left arm.

Velma’s 47-year-old sister, Marian Jayme, who was seated at the car’s backseat was unhurt during the attack and later executed an affidavit before police.

In her affidavit, Jayme said her sister received several threats from a certain "Director Matibag" of the Comelec. Former Comelec information chief Angelina Matibag later denied having any involvement with Cinco’s murder.

After shooting the victim, the gunmen sped off towards Quirino Avenue.

Velma was taken to the Manila Doctors Hospital but was declared dead on arrival due to multiple bullet wounds in the body and head.

Her son was taken to the Philippine General Hospital for treatment of two bullet wounds in the left arm.

Comelec chair Alfredo Benipayo said that Cinco’s death was "job related." "We cannot discount this possibility. This could also be the work of professional killers. This also goes to show that there are people who want to disrupt the (operations of) Comelec," said Benipayo.

The NBI earlier invited for questioning Laverne Manzano, a clerk at the Comelec’s EID who was allegedly hired by Matibag to serve as her "back-up" bodyguard. Seized from him was a licensed 9 mm Ruger pistol.

He was later released pending further investigation by the NBI. However, his gun remains in the hands of investigators for cross-matching with the four spent 9 mm shells recovered by police at the crime scene. — Mike Frialde