City Jail inmate behind some of city's killings?

CEBU, Philippines —  Authorities are looking into reports that an inmate at Cebu City Jail who is facing drug charges was behind some of the shooting incidents in the city.

Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla, deputy city director for operations of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), identified a certain Jojo Sumayang as person of interest in some of the shooting incidents, particularly the killing of drug suspect Floramae Yuson, 32, in Sitio Huyong-Huyong, Barangay Mambaling Friday last week.

Reports gathered by the police revealed that Sumayang is behind the illegal drug operations in Mambaling area and that Yuson was suspected for a police informer. Aside from Yuson’s murder, two other shooting incidents believed to have been ordered by Sumayang are being looked into by police investigators.

The spate of shooting incidents in the past weeks has alarmed the city police. Parilla said the number of shooting incidents, albeit don’t have similar motives, is something to be concerned about.

“This is already alarming for us,” Parilla said earlier.

The police have recorded at least 13 shooting incidents for this month alone.

The latest victim was a drug surrender who was shot Tuesday night by still unidentified gunman in Barangay Lusaran, Cebu City.

Parilla said the victim, Jayson Palacio Goc-ong, 37, was rushed to the hospital but later died.

Police investigators are looking at personal grudge and his previous involvement in illegal drugs as possible motives.

"Duna nasad silay angle nga nakuha, base sa ilang imbestigasyon, previously diay aning nahitabo sa shooting, duna ni siyay nakatiunay ang kaning biktima didto sa Lusaran, mao ni ilang tutokan ron nga dakong posibilidad nga nagbuhat sa pagpamusil," said Parilla.

He said their person of interest has the capacity and resources to execute the crime. — FPL (FREEMAN)