Strafing in Carmen linked to politics

CEBU, Philippines - The police have concluded that the strafing incident last Monday that killed a political supporter of Carmen Mayor Sonia Pua was politically motivated.

SPO2 Renerio Masukol Jr., Carmen police investigator, said that there were witnesses who saw the suspects during the incident.

“Ang duha ka witnesses nakakita ni sila pero wala man sila kaila bisan wala nagtaptap,” Masukol said.

Masukol said they are still conducting follow up operations to determine the identity of the suspects and possibly make the arrest.

Cebu Provincial Police Office chief Erson Digal said he has ordered the Carmen police chief to expedite the investigation.

A group of armed men on board a motorcycle shot Jovito Bontia, Pua’s barangay leader, while he was drinking coffee with his relatives outside his home in barangay Poblacion, Carmen about 11 p.m. on Monday.

Bontia suffered a gunshot wound in the lower abdomen. He was rushed to Danao District Hospital but died on the way. The empty shell of a .45 caliber pistol was recovered from Bontia’s house.

Another group of armed men also strafed the house of Manolo Buot, which was about 100 meters away from Bontia’s, on that same night. Buot was also identified as a political leader of Pua.   (FREEMAN NEWS)