Police: Shooting victim was not an asset

CEBU, Philippines- The Talamban Police Station chief has denied that the man killed by a suspected drug pusher two days ago was a police asset.

 Senior Inspector Bienvenido Miral said that Ronald Tejano, 43, did not work for them. Tejano was shot dead by suspected drug pusher Oliver Salazar after he was suspected of being a police asset.

Salazar was arrested by the operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 in a follow-up operation at Sitio Cabacayan, Barangay Pit-os Saturday afternoon.

Based on the initial investigation of the Cebu City Police Office Homicide Section, the victim’s live-in partner, Lelani Laresma, told the police that Salazar was allegedly harboring personal grudge against Tejano after he suspected the victim of reporting his illegal activities to the police.

Miral said that he does not know the victim, adding that they also do not have any records of Tejano in their station that he works as their asset.

Miral believes that the suspect could have received false information about his neighbor.

“False info to’ng nakuha niya. Dili to asset namo. Napatay na hinuon niya,” he said.

Upon Salazar’s arrest, the police recovered a cal. 45 pistol from his possession. The confiscated firearm will be submitted for ballistic examination to determine if it may have been used in the crime.

The police also found three empty shells apparently from a cal. 45 pistol at the crime scene. Last March 6, Salazar was also being reported to Talamban Police Station for allegedly stabbing Tejano on his left knee. (FREEMAN)