Transport group’s exec found dead in San Mateo

An official of a transport group, whose members ply the Cubao-Pangasinan route, was shot dead and his body dumped in a 30-foot deep ravine in San Mateo, Rizal,

San Mateo policemen retrieved the body of Joselito Cayabyab, 40, a resident of Bayambang, Pangasinan and vice president of the Cubao-Pangasinan FX Drivers’ Association, after a five-hour effort in the ravine in Sitio Amianan, Barangay Pantay Bukawe Thursday night.

Police said Cayabyab was shot in the head and nape with a 9-mm automatic pistol.

The San Mateo police is now coordinating with the Bayambang police to determine who had the strongest motive to kill Cayabyab.

Teenagers gathering wood told police that they saw three men in civilian clothes pushing a maroon Isuzu Highlander with license plate WFH 559 into the ravine at about 4 p.m. Thursday. Cayabyab owned the vehicle.

While the vehicle was falling, the door on the driver’s seat opened and Cayabyab’s body fell out and landed some five meters away from the vehicle, they said.

The teenagers said the three men then walked toward a waiting vehicle and sped off.

Investigators were still looking for other witnesses to get a clear description of the three men and their getaway vehicle.

After the three men left, the teenagers said they rushed to check Cayabyab’s condition and seeing that he was already dead, immediately reported the incident to the police.

Since the ravine was rocky and covered by trees, it took policemen five hours to retrieve Cayabyab’s body.

Using borrowed equipment, police also raised Cayabyab’s vehicle yesterday morning.

Investigators searched the vehicle for clues that would help them identify the three men.

They strongly believe that Cayabyab was abducted and killed elsewhere and his body merely dumped in the ravine.

Investigators plan to interview Cayabyab’s family in Bayambang town to unearth possible motives behind his killing.

"We are pursuing all angles, including those related to his job as an officer of the transport group," one of them said.

Aside from talking to Cayabyab’s fellow officers, the probers also plan to visit the transport group’s terminal in Cubao, Quezon City to gather more information.