Murder of real estate broker 'work related'

CEBU, Philippines -  The motive behind the shooting of a real estate broker in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City last Monday was job-related, a police official said.

City Intelligence Branch chief Romeo Santander said they received information that someone was mad at Edwin Cañete, 50, over the disproportionate sharing of commission on a property sold.

"Naa siya'y gikalalis regarding sa komisyon na wala natarong og bahin," said Santander.

He said they have discounted the angle on robbery since the P500,000 cash the victim withdrew from the bank was still intact.

Cañete, his live-in-partner Sheila Baguio, and his 63-year-old uncle Rudy Capito, just withdrew the money from a bank along A.S. Fortuna, Barangay Banilad at 10 a.m. when a man shot him several times.

Cañete was dead on the spot while Capito was wounded on his left foot and is still confined at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Santander said Capito could be a vital witness to the crime.

The CIB chief further said that they are now hunting down for the suspect, who is reportedly a gun-for-hire.

The gunman, who apparently waited for the victim outside the bank, wore a camouflage upper garment and shorts and also tucked a hostler on his waist.

"Mura'g law enforcer," said Santander.

The suspect, after shooting the victim, ran back to the getaway motorcycle driven by a companion and fled towards Cebu City.

In connection to this, Santander then reminded civilians not to wear police uniforms because this is usurpation of authority.

Cañete was reportedly shot two days after he received death threats through text messages, one of which told him to watch out when getting the money from the bank.  (FREEMAN)