Police check robbers’ link to Alegre ambush

CEBU, Philippines - Police investigators looking into the killing of a female lawyer in Mandaue City are looking at the possible involvement of the six suspected robbers and guns-for-hire arrested in Balamban town.

Mandaue City Police Office director Senior Superintendent Mariano Natu-el Jr. said he has sent investigators to Balamban to interrogate the suspects.  

Natu-el said they received information that the suspects are also involved in gun-for-hire activities.

“I am tasking ang atoang investigation pag-adto didto (Balamban) to identify or to interrogate sa mga suspects. Basin makakuha ta og information sa ilaha or basin sila mismo pud ang nagpatay,” Natu-el said.

He said there is a possibility that the suspects are involved in the ambush that killed lawyer Amelie Alegre and injured lawyer Briccio Boholst and their staff Anthony Pino.

The suspected robbers and guns-for-hire arrested in Balamban Tuesday were Jose Montero, 41; Arnel Nacion, 39; Billy Cañedo, 25; Federico Dacallos, 34; Lourdesillo Cabaron, 38; and Julius Cesar Climaco, 20. 

Police investigators are scheduled to hold another case conference today.

Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas wants the case solved before the start of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit tomorrow.

“If possible, do it before the APEC summit,” Bañas said.

Natu-el, however, admitted that they are still far from identifying the mastermind. He said they do not also want to rush the investigation only to come up with weak evidence.

“Lisod man gud kaayo ni siyang mga murder case man gud… Kon wala’y testimony or walay evidence that lead to the mastermind bisan madakpan pa nimo ang gunman, kon di gyud siya mosulti, wa gyud ta’y mahimo,” Natu-el said.

Bañas believes that the composite sketches of the two suspects would help investigators in finding the culprits.

The police released the other day the composite sketch of the two suspects. They were allegedly part of the six people believed to have been involved in the killing of Alegre.

 Alegre, Boholst and Pino were ambushed last week in Barangay Looc, Mandaue City. Alegre died on the spot while Boholst and Pino survived. (FREEMAN)