No leads yet

CEBU, Philippines - The police in Lapu-Lapu City have found no leads that would tie the strafing last Tuesday of the barangay hall of Canjulao to political or personal motives.

“As of now, we cannot say it’s political or personal. We have no leads yet,” city police director Senior Supt. Mariano Natuel Jr. said. He said no one has come forward to say he had seen someone strafing the building.

During their initial investigation, Natuel said some people interviewed had said “namatay na ang director ana, sir (the director of that (movie) is already dead)” and that the “incident” is the second one to have happened.

Few years ago, the strafing incident also occurred in the barangay hall but it was not reported by the barangay to the police.

Canjulao barangay captain Rufo Bering, a candidate for councilor, said the incident was meant to scare supporters.

Bering is allied with opposition mayoralty candidate Junard Chan. In the running are Paz Radaza, the wife of congressional candidate Mayor Arturo Radaza, businessman Efrain Pelaez Jr., and two independents.

Natuel can’t understand why the chief of tanods did not report the incident to the police immediately. He said the policemen manning a checkpoint at the time of the incident did not hear any gunshots.

Natuel, however, assured residents that the city is still peaceful and orderly.

“Ang syudad pabiling malinawon ug hapsay. Wala’y angayang ipanghadlok,” Natuel said.

Mayor Arturo Radaza and his wife Paz had said the incident was only “a stage drama” in order to create an impression that the city is disorderly.

“The team of Deretso sa Kalambuan wishes to assure the public that Lapu-Lapu City continues to be safe and orderly as it has always been under the leadership of Mayor Arturo Radaza,” the statement read. – THE FREEMAN