3 angles eyed in Cavite shoot-out

CAMP PANTALEON GARCIA, Imus, Cavite — Police are eyeing three angles in the Rosario, Cavite shoot-out that resulted in the death of six people the other day.

The angles believed behind the shoot-out were illegal activities in the barangay, politics, and an old grudge.

Slain the Friday evening shoot-out in Barangay Ligtong 4 were SPO2 Gerardo Concha, 52, PO3 Ernesto Baybay, both assigned at the Cavite Criminal Investigation and Detection Group field office in this camp, Romino Voluntad, 52, businessman and resident of Barangay Ligtong; Larry Convento, 42, barangay chairman, his brother Danilo Convento, 38; and Monriel Villestas, 8.

Chief Inspector Rex de la Rosa, Cavite CIDG provincial officer, said his two men, Concha and Baybay, were tasked to monitor the sources of explosives being used in dynamite fishing in Barangay Ligtong 4.

De la Rosa said intelligence reports indicates that the barangay could be a transit point for sodium nitrate, an explosive powder used in recent bombing incidents in Metro Manila.

He expressed the belief that Convento might have sensed that Concha and Baybay were monitoring his movements for allegedly protecting dynamite fishermen.

Concha’s wife, Perlita, meanwhile, said Convento could have suspected her husband of monitoring his alleged protection of illegal gambling activities, particularly the operation of video-karera machines.

Local police, meanwhile, said politics could be behind the shoot out as Voluntad, one of those killed, was the losing opponent of Convento in the last barangay elections.

Also being eyed was a dispute over a 100-square meter lot alleged grabbed by the Conventos from the Conchas.

Meanwhile, police will file tomorrow multiple murder charges against Convento’s younger brothers Jimmy and Gilbert for the death of Concha, Baybay, Villestas and Voluntad. The two escaped right after the incident.

Concha, Baybay and Voluntad were walking on the street when confronted by Larry Convento, together with brothers Jimmy, Gilbert and Danilo at about 6 p.m. Friday.

The eight-year-old Villestas was reportedly hit by stray bullets.

A heated argument ensued, which resulted in the gun battle. A certain Rico Pureza voluntarily surrendered to the police a .45 cal. pistol, allegedly one of the guns used in the shoot-out.