No leads yet in killing of “police character”

DUMAGUETE CITY  , Philippines – Investigators are still looking for leads to determine the motive and identity of suspects in the shooting-to-death of a “police character” in Sibulan, Negros Oriental Tuesday evening.

A potential witness to the crime, a certain Jerome who drove the motorcycle which the victim and a female companion boarded that night, has also gone missing, said Sibulan Police chief, Sr. Insp. Rodrigo Tubog.

Tubog said the victim, Raymund Sacam, a resident of Brgy. Magatas in Sibulan, was a known personality with previous criminal cases filed against him, one of which was for frustrated murder which was dismissed later.

Sacam was riding a motorcycle driven by Jerome and a certain Julien Diputado along the national highway at around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday when three men on another motorcycle drove up to them and opened fire.

Initial police investigation showed the assailants were wearing ball caps, apparently to conceal their faces, said Tubog.

Sacam was rushed to the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. Diputado was also brought to the hospital for injury on her buttocks. She survived the attack but could not provide investigators further information about Jerome, said Tubog.

Responding policemen recovered at least eight spent shells of a caliber .45 bulletsfrom the crime scene.

Sacam was tagged a “police character” by the police of Sibulan and Valencia towns and Dumaguete City for his alleged involvement in a variety of crimes, particularly, robbery.

Tubog declined to comment on the possibility that vigilantes had perpetrated the crime.  (FREEMAN)