Councilman dies of complications

CEBU, Philippines — Police investigators had confirmed that the councilman from Barangay Calamba, Cebu City, who earlier survived a shot in the head on Friday evening by an unidentified assailant, had died in a medical facility.

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Homicide Section SPO1 Winston Ybañez told The FREEMAN that outgoing councillor, Hildebrando Ygonia, had succumbed to complications that led to his death at 12:40 p.m. yesterday.

Ybañez said the ongoing probe is looking into a person of interest.

However, The FREEMAN is withholding the name of the person of interest so as not to hamper the investigation. Based on police guidelines, persons of interest are not considered suspects.

“Naa na ta person of interest, naa mi gisubay pero dili sa namo i-divulge.  Amo sa ni i-confirm sa witnesses, dili ni (assailant), taga diha,” Ybañez said.

He added that witnesses in the area who chose not to reveal their names to police, nor be formally identified as witnesses, could attest that the assailants were seen patrolling the area around their residence.

Though no one volunteered to describe the physical features, Ybañez said the assailants are not from the same barangay as they were not wearing face masks.

He said that they were only wearing caps.

Ybañez said that they are eyeing personal grudge, work-related matter, and politics as possible motives of the killing.

However, the police investigation is leaning towards on politics, but they are not discounting the two other motives.

At present, he said that they are still giving the family privacy before they resume asking questions that will deepen the investigation.

“Tagaan usa namo og time ang pamilya, kay karon dili pa kaayo cooperative ang pamilya.  So, wala wa pa ta’y idea kung kinsa gyud ang kontra-kontra sa politika,” he said.

He also said they are still gathering enough evidence before singling out any names.

He added that the councilman received death threats prior to the incident. (FREEMAN)