Cops tag drug syndicate behind death of Cañete

CEBU - Police investigators yesterday confirmed that a drug syndicate was behind the killing of PO2 Joseph Clint Cañete last Tuesday.

Acting Mandaue City Police Office director Supt. Vicente Mersan Premne said that aside from the drug syndicate that is behind the killing of Cañete, they were also able to establish that one of the suspects is an “asset” of another law enforcement agency.

Premne yesterday said that what is left unsolved now is the identity of the triggerman as they do not have any physical description on him yet. The gunman wore a full face motorcycle helmet making it difficult to get a positive identification.

There is also suspicion that there are other targets of the drug syndicate aside from Cañete.

Premne said that they are hoping that witnesses can recognize the face of the person bringing a crash helmet into the courtroom of Lapu-Lapu City where Cañete attended a hearing shortly before his death.

The acting chief of the Mandaue Police also theorized that the death of the policeman could be related to that of lawyer Richard Sison last May 21.

   Deputy Regional Director for Operations Sr. Supt Drusilo Bolodo concurs with the theory of Premne.

   Earlier, Premne pointed out that the way Canete was gunned down was similar to how Sison was killed at V. Sotto Street, Cebu City.

Sison was driving his Toyota Hi-lux pick-up when one of two men onboard a motorcycle shot him several times.

“Pareho gyud ang mode of execution busa we can say nga similar sila,” Premne said.

However, they could not yet establish a strong link between two murders.

Bolodo however said that, “The pattern is something na pwede magkapareho but it’s too hasty at this point in time to say that because we do not have evidence yet to substantiate that.”

Bolodo said PO2 Cañete was one of the trusted and industrious operatives since the reactivation of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (RAIDSOTG) last October 2007.

“We mourn his (Cañete) death, the loss of one good operative. Di sad ta maka dali-dali gud ug pangita ug maayo nga operative labi na against illegal drugs,” Bolodo said.

Bolodo also said that Cañete had been receiving death threats.

“Pirmi na to siya (Cañete) nakadawat ug threat and siya mismo, admitted na pirmi naa’y mag-sunod-sunod niya sauna. Naa sad mangutana sa iyang kauban kung asa s’ya na area dapit,” Bolodo said.

Premne said that Mayor Jonas Cortes has confirmed that the camera installed at the Mactan Bridge where the incident happened, did not function so that there was no footage of the incident taken.

Premne earlier described the shooter as “a professional” based on the grouping of the wounds. The bullets damaged the victim’s heart, lung, liver and spleen.

Meanwhile, Bolodo also pointed out that criminals take advantage of the narrow road since they can easily slip away from pursuers in four-wheeled vehicles.

Bolodo is the Task Group Motorcycle commander. This group was created to curb crimes perpetrated by motorcycle-riding men.

“It (task group motorcycle) has been there sa una pa. Nahatagan lang na ug emphasis ‘ron kay ang crime perpetrated by motorcycle-riding criminals, mi isa,” Bolodo said.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office-7 Director Ronald Roderos ordered for the immediate release of PO2 Cañete’s benefits.

Roderos also ordered the comptroller of PRO-7 to immediately process the educational scholarship until college for the three children of Cañete, who are all boys in their teens.

A total of P446,440.25 will be received by PO2 Cañete’s family from the Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund, Incorporated and another P80,000 financial assistance from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. — Flor Z.Perolina and   Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/NLQ  (THE FREEMAN)