To probe lawyer’s murder
CEBU, Philippines — The Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) has formed a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to look into the murder of lawyer-accountant Duke Ramil Perral Lincuna, who was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men in Barangay Bakilid on Thursday morning (Dec. 11).
Police Regional Office–7 has also deployed additional personnel and national support units to assist in the investigation.
The MCPO said Police Regional Director, Police/Brigadier General Redrico Atienza Maranan, sent chiefs from various units, including the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU), the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and other support forces, to help fast-track the investigation.
MCPO spokesperson, P/Lt. Col. Mercy Villaro, said the SITG is working to identify the gunmen, establish the motive, and speed up the case resolution.
Investigators are now reviewing and enhancing CCTV footage showing the two gunmen. The SITG held its second meeting yesterday (December 12) to assess new information gathered from personalities who may shed light on the case.
“Hinay-hinay natong na-connect ang backtracking and forward tracking of the CCTVs,” Villaro said, adding that they are examining personal, professional, and business angles, although the exact motive remains unclear yet.
“Ang atong gipangtan-aw lang gihapon kay ang nagkalain-laing mga angle … As to the motive, dili pa nato makuha karon kay naka-depende kung unsa pa gyud ang evidence nga makuha nato,” she explained.
Villaro said they have yet to identify a person of interest, but CCTV footage has captured the movements of the assailants who were wearing bonnets and helmets. One clip even shows a moment before the attack when the suspects’ bonnet briefly came off.
Police are now in possession of a footage showing momentarily the gunmen’s faces, which are undergoing technical video enhancement.
Villaro said the team continues to conduct investigations and hot pursuit operations. They have collected multiple CCTV recordings showing the entry and exit routes of the assailants, and most angles are now complete, pending further enhancement.
The police official also appealed to the public to share clearer and higher-resolution footage, if any, whether from CCTVs or dashcams. “If naa mo’y mas high-resolution nga dashcam or CCTV nga makatabang sa investigation, mas maayo,” she said.
Villaro added that Lincuna’s family and friends reported no known death threats before the attack. However, investigators will also examine the victim’s electronic devices, including his cellphone, to determine whether he received threats directly.
Lincuna, 54, a resident of Barangay Lamac, Consolacion, was a lawyer-accountant assigned to the Bureau of Internal Revenue RDO–81 Cebu City North, where he was reportedly handling large-scale businesses, properties, and real-estate matters linked to their family business.
The murder took place at around 5:50 a.m. Thursday (Dec. 11)and was reported to the police at around 6:35 a.m.
Villaro told the media that Lincuna was driving along Sacris Road when two men on a motorcycle tailed him, caught up with his vehicle, and opened fire at him. When he stopped his SUV, the suspects approached and shot him multiple times at close range.
He was rushed to the Mandaue City District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to the face, head, and other parts of the body.
Responding police and Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered at least eight empty shells from the scene. They also found the SUV’s driver-side window shattered, the driver’s seat soaked in blood, and several bullet holes on the vehicle.
The victim’s car is now placed outside the Mandaue City Police Station 2 for further examination. As of yesterday, an autopsy was still conducted on Lincuna’s body. (CEBU NEWS)
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