Police identify shooter of killed Cebu City cop

CEBU, Philippines - Carcar City police has identified the suspect responsible in the shooting of PO1 Felicisimo Unabia who was killed while waiting for a ride for Cebu City in Barangay Poblacion, Carcar City last Wednesday evening.

SPO1 Jorame Tanudtanud, investigator of the case, said that they already know the identity of the person who shot Unabia but refused to further disclose information pending the arrest of the suspect on their follow-up operation.

Tanudtanud told The FREEMAN that the suspect is no longer in their area of responsibility but is still within the Province of Cebu.

"Tanan ga-monitor ani niya (suspect) labi na sa Cebu City kay joint operation na man ni," Tanudtanud said in a phone interview.

The police was able to arrest earlier two other suspects allegedly involved in the crime.

Marvin Binoya of Barangay Poblacion 3 and Juanito Linggatong of Agusan Del Norte, the alleged driver of the getaway motorcycle and the spotter, respectively, were both arrested last Thursday morning, following positive identification by Unabia's siblings, based on footages from a close-circuit television camera.

A murder case was filed against them Thursday, though they denied any participation of the crime.

The suspects were subjected to a paraffin test yesterday by the Crime Scene Investigation of the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

Unabia was reportedly shot dead by two men on board a motorcycle along the national highway of J.P. Rizal St. while waiting for a Ceres bus.

He was supposed to go to work at 10:00 p.m. at the Mobile Patrol Group-Cebu City Police Office.

Unabia drew his personal .45 pistol but no longer fired at the suspects as the pistol was locked.

He succumbed to gunshot wounds on his abdomen, chest and chin.

Found in the crime scene were five empty shells and two slugs of a .45 pistol.

The police are looking into personal grudge as well as work-related as the motive for the killing.

Provincial Intelligence Branch chief, Supt. Rodolfo Albotra, said he dispatched a team to help with the investigation and to make a profiling of the personalities in the city involved in shooting incidents.

"We are backtracking and all names are subject for validation," Albotra said in a phone interview, adding that the suspects are possibly gun-for hire men.— /ATO (FREEMAN)