Cops know who killed Compostela ex-mayor

CEBU, Philippines – The police have already identified the man who gunned down former Compostela mayor Joselito Reynes last Monday night.

Senior Supt. Erson Digal, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, said the case will be filed on Monday.

Digal said the suspect is a former employee of the victim who disappeared from Compostela immediately after the incident in Barangay Estaca past 10 p.m. last Monday.

Digal said five of the six people they invited for questioning positively identified the said suspect as the one who shot and killed Reynes, 62.

"Kadtong ato gi-invite yesterday (Wednesday) for questioning, nisulti sila nga mao na'y nahitabo ug nisulti nga mao g'yud ang suspek. Ni-crop up na ang pangalan, so, atong gipa-subscribe ilang affidavit aron ma-file nato ang kaso," Digal told reporters yesterday.

Digal said one of those invited for questioning, Reypas Gahi, voluntarily took a paraffin test after he was suspected as the assailant.

Reynes was parking his car to go to a store at almost 11 p.m. when two men on a red motorcycle drove up to the driver's side and opened fire at him. He was hit thrice and died at the hospital.

The Special Investigation Task Team composed of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7, PNP Crime Laboratory, Regional Intelligence Division, and the Provincial Intelligence Branch believe the assailants are still in Cebu.

Meanwhile, Compostela Mayor-elect Joel Quiño said he received a threat from an unidentified person through a text message informing him that he will be targeted next.

"Daghan pang adlaw… ug dili mo mangundang anang inyong pagkatikasan… Usa nahipos na… kaw sunod," the message read.

Politics is seen as the likely motive for the killing, both Quiño and the police believe. Reynes, who served as mayor of the town from 1980 to 1986, was also a councilor from 2001 to 2010 and was the campaign manager of Quiño during the May polls. - With reports from Rey Pasaporte of Banat News/BRP (THE FREEMAN)