Police eye 2 motives in brgy captain’s slay

CEBU, Philippines - The police eyed two possible motives in the killing of a barangay captain in Toledo City last Tuesday.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Senior Superintendent Noel Gillamac said that personal grudge and business angles are being looked into by homicide investigators as possible motives in the killing of Cambang-og barangay captain Timoteo Largo.

But Provincial Board Member Grecilda Sanchez did not discount the possibility that the killing is related to Largo’s advocacy as barangay official.

Gillamac said that Supt. Ricky Delelis, Toledo City police chief, reported to him that they have established personal grudge between Largo and the suspect, Dionesio Juarez, who remains at large and is still subject of a manhunt operation.

Gillamac added that they are not also discounting possible business angle because the suspect reportedly asked to operate a business in the victim’s barangay.

The police are yet to establish what kind of business that Juarez wanted to operate in Cambang-og.

“Nagkaistorya mi sa chief of police sa Toledo, according to him, naay personal grudges between katong namatay ug katong si Juarez, naa say mga anggolo nga ilang gitan-aw nga matawag nato og business siguro in the barangay nga gipangayo ni Juarez. We do not know what kind of business but for now sigi pata’g conduct og investigation kung unsa gyuy real motive sa pagpatay,” Gillamac said.

Sanchez, on the other hand, believes that Largo’s death may be connected to his campaign against illegal drugs and illegal quarrying.

“It could be one of them, possible pod personal. Vocal man gud kaayo to siya,” Sanchez told reporters.

She said Largo used to air concerns before her office regarding the alleged presence of quarrying and illegal drugs in his area. She recounted that the last time she spoke to Largo was two months ago when the latter reported to her the toppled bridge in Cambang-ong reportedly caused by illegal quarrying.

“Last December, I went there. I even have photos nga peligro gyud ang area,” she said, adding that ‘illegal’ quarrying in Toledo City has become so ‘vast’ with numerous complaints received and being look into by her office.

Gillamac directed the Toledo City police to concentrate on the hot pursuit operation against the suspect and to get the statements of the witnesses for the immediate filing of the case.

Gillamac has also tasked the Provincial Intelligence Branch to assist the Toledo City police in the manhunt operation. He said they have already information about the suspect’s possible whereabouts.

Largo was shot dead Tuesday while driving his Ford Everest in Barangay Ilihan, Toledo City.

Juarez, who was driving a multicab, reportedly blocked Largo resulting in a verbal tussle before the shooting happened. A motorist who happened to pass by the place was hit by a stray bullet in the chest and is still in critical condition.— (FREEMAN)