Police to file charges vs "killer" on the loose

CEBU, Philippines - The police will file charges next week against the suspect in last Wednesday's drive-by shooting who remains at large.

Supt. Henry Biñas, Talisay City Police Station chief, said the police went to the man's house Wednesday night but relatives and neighbors were uncooperative.

Biñas has refused to reveal the identity of the man but offered "personal grudge" as the motive for the crime.

What led the police information about the gunman was the incident that happened in October last year where victim Rogelio "Pido" Mendoza, 17, was involved.

Allegedly, Mendoza and his friends were drinking in a beach area in barangay Poblacion then when a group of Tau Gamma members came and started beating them.

When he saw an opportunity, Mendoza reportedly hit one of the Tau Gamma members with an empty beer bottle.

Biñas would not confirm whether Mendoza's killer was the Tau Gamma member.

Mendoza, while watching friends play "piyat piyat," a card game, in Poblacion that Wednesday night, two men aboard a motorcycle arrived and started shooting at them.

Mendoza succumbed to gunshot wounds on his left chest, while his friends Rey Torcide Basmayor sustained a gunshot would in his right ear, and Anthony Salbado Delima in his abdomen.

Police recovered from the crime scene two empty shells of bullets of a .45 caliber pistol.

Biñas said the police already have the name of the suspect and whether or not he gets arrested next week he will still be charged for the murder of Mendoza. (FREEMAN)