Digal orders deeper probe into cop's slay

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) acting director Supt. Erson Digal ordered Talisay City police chief Supt. Henry Biñas to go deeper in the investigation into the shooting of PO2 Benjamin Racaza Saturday evening in sitio Litmon, barangay Dumlog.

Biñas, in an interview over dySS Super Radyo, said hatred could be the motive for Racaza’s killing.

Racaza, 31, who was assigned to the personnel division of the Police Regional Office-7, died Sunday morning after he was shot in the head by an ex-convict neighbor.

Witnesses identified the assailant as 23-year-old Anthony Aves, alias “Tonton,” also of sitio Litmon.

Biñas said Aves has been jailed at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center for five years reportedly because of a shooting charge.

Police said Aves was drinking with his companions, Horestes Morada and Jaymar Abellana, while Racaza was about to have a drink nearby with Jerry Intoma, a brother-in-law of Aves and handler of Racaza’s roosters.

While drinking, Racaza reportedly told Aves to move his rooster to another place so their rooster will not fight each other when Aves made the offer to sell his two roosters to Racaza for P250 each.

But when Racaza and Intoma were looking at the roosters, Aves then allegedly suddenly shot Racaza in the head.

Intoma said he and another neighbor Talon Cejas ran to a multicab to hide.

“Mibalik pa gani si Aves unya iyang gitan-aw si Racaza nga gabuy-od unya miingon pa “nga patay na” ug dayun balik ug biya,” Intoma said.

Cejas ran away while Intoma shouted for help.

Intoma said his brother-in-law is hot-tempered when he is drunk.

Policemen arrived at the crime scene and recovered an empty shell of a .45 cal. pistol but failed to arrest Aves.

“9mm ang service firearm ni Racaza pero .45 nga empty shell ang na-recover sa crime scene so amo pa ning i-investigate if asa ni ug pusil si Aves,” Biñas said.

Intoma asked to be allowed to sleep at the Talisay City Police Station for fear that Aves will also kill him.

Digal, after knowing that the crime involved fighting cocks, reminded his police officers that they are not allowed to go to cockfighting arena.

“Akong gi-encourage ang tanang mga civilians nga kodakan ang mga police nga mosulod og mga buwangan asta diha sa tigbakayan para kung mapamatud-an ato ning ipa-relieve,” Digal said. — Christopher Gabriel C. Bonjoc/LPM (THE FREEMAN)