Man denies claim son was "drug lord"

CEBU, Philippines - Rey Donaire Sr., yesterday said his son, Rey Jr., who was killed by four armed men traveling on two motorcycles, was not a leader of a drug syndicate in Lapu-Lapu City and was not the primary but Siegred Abas who was arrested last Tuesday for illegal possession of drugs in barangay Gun-ob.

He claimed it was Siegred Abas who dragged his son into the illegal drug trade.

Abas and Donaire, who had just been released from city jail, were killed last Wednesday night in barangay Poblacion after posting P200,000 bail each.

Donaire theorized that Abas, who is a resident of barangay Pasil, Cebu City, was the primary target of the killing.

“Tarong jud intawon ni akong anak, tarong jud ning bata. Wala jud koy masulti ani,” Donaire said.

Aside from Abas and Donaire, three others were wounded, namely, Alejandro Lovidina, Renato Martorillas, and Elmer Munasque.

They were on board a green Chery vehicle with plate number KEH-247 driven by Munasque when they were shot at by four men aboard a motorcycle.

Lapu-Lapu City police chief Mariano Natuel Jr. believed that illegal drugs could have been the motive behind the killing.

The police are also considering personal grudges and business rivals in the illegal drug trade as the possible motives.

Senior Insp. Leonides Casul of the Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) said the assailants were probably not certain where Abas was seated inside the car, so they sprayed the car with bullets just to be sure they got their man.

The car was going fast and the men on the motorcycles could not overtake it so they had to fire their guns while tailing it.

“Nagpasagad na lang to ang ila og sikinsay maigo basta mamatay lang ang target,” Casul said.

Abas was heading toward the National Shrine of the Virgin of the Rule in barangay Poblacion to light candles when ambushed, less than an hour after he and Donaire were set free from the Lapu-Lapu City detention cell.

Donaire said Abas was known in their place and that their neighbors thought his son was Abas’ right hand because they were always together.

Abas was reportedly supplying between 200 and 400 grams of shabu in Lapu-Lapu’s largest and most populated barangay Gun-ob.

Insp. Juan Capacio, the homicide section chief, said the police are coordinating with SOCO for the immediate resolution of the case. — THE FREEMAN