Ex-Medellin Mayor:Politics, love triangleamong motives in slay

CEBU, Philippines — The police are looking into politics, history of illegal drug use, revenge, and possible love triangle as possible angles in the killing of former Medellin mayor Ricardo “Ricky” Ramirez.

Police Regional Office-7 Director Debold Sinas, in a press briefing yesterday, told reporters that these are the initial angles that they are looking into, as cops are still facing a blank wall as to who may have masterminded or served as triggermen behind the killing.

Sinas said that they are considering politics because Ramirez, being an ex-mayor, may have abused his power.

For the illegal drug use angle, Ramirez may have slighted a few people for his behavior while in the influence of illegal substances.

For the love triangle theory, the former mayor reportedly had a girlfriend prior to his arrest in July 2017.

Sinas said that it is possible that some of his enemies may have been triggered by the state in which he was imprisoned.

“If we check the background, he was involved as a drug user, until he was arrested. Until nadakpan siya, wala kasulod sa jail.  He was in the hospital which he also owned, which is self-serving. Daghan na disgruntled siguro, so we are looking on that angle.  We are looking sa nakabanggaan niya. Supposedly he is supposed to be in jail but wala man,” he said.

Ramirez was killed late Tuesday evening inside the Bogo-Medellin Medical Center.

Around 15 men stormed the hospital and shot Ramirez several times. They sped away and collected the cellphones of the medical personnel.

Sinas added they are coordinating with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to determine if there had been any lapses.

This, after Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde had mentioned that the BJMP may have underestimated the risk involving Ramirez, since they only assigned one jail officer as security.

Sinas said a high-profile person who is deprived of liberty should have had more than one security detail.

Sinas added the incident was an isolated case and that there is no reason for residents of Medellin town to be alarmed.

Last Thursday, Police Lt. Colonel Eloveo Marquez, the chief of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch in Cebu Provincial Police Office, said they are open to augmenting additional forces in the town, if requested. — GAN (FREEMAN)