Suspects in killing of Carcar barangay captain identified

CEBU, Philippines -    Authorities in Carcar City have identified the suspects in the shooting of the barangay captain of Ocaña, but would not divulge the identities just yet so as not to jeopardize the investigation.

   Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Lani-O Nerez said the investigation is now focused on a drug angle because then barangay captain Jose Diac Husain was reportedly active in divulging to authorities the identities of those involved in the illegal drug trade in his barangay.

   Nerez, nevertheless, said they still do not discount the possibility that politics had also something to do with the killing.

   “Amo lang ning hatagan og gibug-aton ang illegal drugs pero ang politika nga angle dili gihapon namo gi-discount,” Nerez said.

   Nerez added they intend to arrest not only the gunman, but also the mastermind of the killing.

   Husain was killed by two to three persons on board a motorcycle in sitio Bacsije, barangay Ocaña last Friday dawn. Husain, who was driving his service multicab, was about to go home from the barangay hall when shot.

   Seven gunshot wounds on different parts of his body caused his instantaneous death.

   Police recovered seven empty shells of a .45 caliber of gun, three slugs of a .45 caliber gun and one empty shell of a .38 caliber firearm.

Nerez said an independent team has been created to further investigate the case, members of which come from anti-drug units like the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).   (FREEMAN NEWS)