Police tracking down identity of fixer's killer

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City police are now tracking down the identity of the man believed to have killed an alleged fixer of an emission testing center who also worked at an insurance agency Thursday morning in barangay Dumlog.

Talisay City Police Station chief Supt. Henry Biñas said the motive for the killing could be job-related, but stressed that they are also looking for other possible angles.

The police confirmed that before he was killed, Jijones Cauba, 47, a resident of the place, made a transaction with a man (name withheld) but failed to deliver his promise.

The night before Cauba, an ex-convict, was killed he was drinking with the uncle of his client. While drinking, Cauba and the man, whom the police believed to be the suspect in the killing, suddenly erupted into a heated argument.

They reportedly pointed their guns to each other but were immediately pacified.

“Nasuko ang suspect kay ngano iyang giunay og tumbling iyang pag-umangkon,” Biñas said.

He said right after the killing, he immediately sent his men to the house of the suspect but they failed to locate him until yesterday morning.

“Nilayas naman ang suspect sa dihang giadto sa akong mga sakop,” he said.

Since the man could not anymore be found, the police believed that he was really responsible for the crime.

Cauba was about to leave for his work when one of the assailants shot him in the head, just 20 meters away from his house. The men were seen heading for barangay Mohon on board a motorcycle.

His mother told dySS that her son was a good person and does not have any enemy.

But Dumlog barangay captain Charles Basillote said the victim’s mother had once sought his help, claiming she was mauled by her son.

“Kaila g’yud mi aning pamilya nila kay naa ra man pud ni dapit sa among balay ilaha. Hinuon wala gyud mi naabot anang puntoha nga naabot sila sa barangay pero ang mama ni Joe ari gyud na dangop nako,” Basillote said.

Basillote also said that Cauba was involved in robbery in Naga and Cebu City a few years ago and was imprisoned at the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

After Cauba was released from jail, he was allegedly involved in a shootout with a policeman and was arrested after he was wounded in the abdomen.

“Murag naa sa tuig 2002 ngadto sa 2003 siya nakigpinusilay sa police diha sa bridge sa barangay Mohon. Nadakpan man gani na siya pero ambot nganong nakagawas,” Basillote added.

Cauba was invited once to Dumlog barangay hall to settle a complaint raised by one of his clients.

PO2 Lino Diez said most of the people in the area would not give any information regarding the killing.

“Imposible gyud kaayo ni nga way nakakita sa pagpusil ug sa mga suspect kay daghan gud ‘ning tao dire dapita pero sige lang basin unya naay mopatim-aw nga mo-witness,” Diez said. — Gabriel C. Bonjoc/LPM (THE FREEMAN)