Police have possible suspect in Osorio slay

CEBU ­– Cebu City Police Office chief Patrocinio Comendador, Jr. yesterday said that there are big chances that the man they are now focusing on their investigation is one of the suspects in the killing of Assistant City Prosecutor Patrick Ian Osorio.

He claimed that last Sunday, a media reporter relayed to him a text message mentioning the name of the said perpetrator.

But Comendador said they are now verifying if the man the text message referred to really exists and then try to link the man’s name, which the police official refuse to mention pending further investigation, to the cases that were handled by Osorio.

“If the name crops up, then dako g’yud ang chances nga siya g’yud ang suspect,” Comendador said.

Other than that, Comendador revealed they also have the name of another suspect, which was provided by the intelligence information personnel.

However, he added that there is no strong evidence to hold the man or to directly link him in the killing but he has already a pending warrant of arrest for another murder case.

According to Comendador, they are also giving weight to the statement of fiscal Fernando Gubalani that 60 percent of the motive in the killing of Osorio was job-related.

Comendador said that they are focusing on angles related to drugs and family court, as these were the cases handled by the slain fiscal.

“We cannot quantify how far we are now in the investigation,” Comendador said, adding the task force could “come up with an 80 percent result on their investigation today, but could only become 20 percent the next day.”

He said they are considering all reports that were given to the task force and they are still on focus on their investigation.

Osorio was killed by two unidentified motorcycle-riding men last January 6 at Ma. Gochan St., barangay Mambaling while he was driving his vehicle on his way home from work. — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/WAB (THE FREEMAN)