Gunman in Cagayan LP leader's slay identified

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya ,Philippines  – The gunman behind last month’s killing of a municipal chairman of the Liberal Party (LP) in Cagayan has been identified, police disclosed yesterday. 

Chief Superintendent Francisco Villaroman, Cagayan Valley police director said a witness pointed to Jimmy Sagun as the killer of Lyndon Obispo, 43, who ran but lost in his mayoralty bid in Peñablanca town last year.

“He (Sagun) was positively identified by a witness through a police rogue gallery after a thorough investigation,” Villaroman said.

Obispo, the LP head of Peñablanca town, was shot dead inside an agricultural establishment along Blumentritt street, Barangay Centro 7 in Cagayan’s Tuguegarao City capital last May 15. He died of two gunshot wounds on his back.

Police said Sagun, a native of Solana, Cagayan, is now the subject of a manhunt. “Although the suspect is still at large, a case of murder has already been filed against him before the city prosecutor’s office,” Villaroman said.

Tuguegarao City police Superintendent Pedro Martirez said Sagun also has pending cases for illegal possession of firearms in various local courts.

“According to our intelligence, he is neither identified with any group like the communists or politicians. He is just a criminal. He is a gun-for-hire,” Martirez said.

Police authorities however maintained that the motive behind Obispo’s slay was personal, contrary to the claim of his colleagues and family. 

Former Cagayan congressman Manuel Mamba, LP provincial chairman earlier said Obispo had filed pending graft and corruption cases against some local officials in the province.

Mamba said Obispo was the 15th LP leader in Cagayan to be killed since the start of the election period last year.