Man who "threatened" trader linked to killing of engineer

CEBU, Philippines - A former driver of a popular bus line was invited for questioning by the police after he was pointed as the one who allegedly called a Consolacion-based businessman and threatened to kill him in the same manner Engr. Malequias Ceballo was killed last week.

Businessman Edward Tiu said he strongly suspected it was Oscar Declanan, alias “Negro”, whom his brother had dismissed from service who called and threatened him.

“Nanion ka anang driver sa “Germania,” kang Negro! Bantay ka lang sulungon tika,” Tiu quoted the caller as saying. Germania is the name of a bus Tiu’s brother owns.

Tiu said he received the call evening last Monday and immediately reported it to the police with the assistance of Ceballo’s brother, SPO1 Silas Ceballo. 

Declanan, a resident of Mandaue City, denied the allegations during questioning but PO1 Ricky Linawan of the Carmen police said Tiu, who considered the threat serious, has decided to file a complaint for grave threats against the former driver.

Silas told radio station dySS he helped Tiu in the hope that it might help solve the killing of his brother, considering that the caller threatened to kill Tiu in the same manner Ceballos was killed.

Ceballo, a resident of barangay Cogon, Compostela, was on his way to work as an engineer at Cebu Holdings Inc. last April 16 when three men on a motorcycle peppered him with bullets while he was driving his Toyota Hilux on the highway in barangay Consolacion.

He died on the spot from six gunshot wounds and his pickup turned turtle causing a traffic jam in the northern highway. Witnesses said that the assailants’ black motorcycle did not bear any plate number.

The gunmen allegedly fired eight times, hitting the engineer in the neck, shoulder, chest and other parts of his body.

The police are also looking into the possibility that the killing might have something to do with a land dispute involving the victim, which is still being settled in court. — Christopher Gabriel C. Bonjoc and Guam Logroño of Banat News/JMO (THE FREEMAN)