Probers now have photos of lawyer’s ‘killers’

CEBU, Philippines - Investigators looking into the case of the slain lawyer in Mandaue City already have photographs of the two persons who allegedly shot the victim last August 13, said a police official.

Mandaue City Police Office chief, Senior Superintendent Mariano Natu-el Jr., said the persons seen in the photos are 80 percent similar to those who ambushed lawyer Amelie Ocañada-Alegre, based on the cartographic sketches released last August 19.

“Fortunately, 80 percent, we have already a picture that will match to the facial composites that we have shown before,” Natu-el said.

The city director said the photos came from some sources. To protect flow of investigation, he refused to disclose the sources or show the photos to the media.

Natu-el said they have gathered the photos of the driver and the assailant of Alegre after a case conference last Thursday.

The fourth case conference was conducted at the office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 at the Cebu City Police Office.

Natu-el also said they are still identifying the names of the alleged gunmen. He is hopeful that with the photos of the alleged gunmen, the police will be able to solve the case sooner.

He also said once they identified the assailants, they will file charges against them.

The police investigators continue to exchange information and evidence that will lead to the identification of those involved in the ambush of lawyer Alegre, said Natu-el.

Alegre, who was then with her colleague, lawyer Briccio Joseph Boholst, and a staff worker Antonio Pino, was ambushed in Barangay Looc, Mandaue City.

Boholst and Pino sustained gunshot wounds but survived the ambush.

Natu-el earlier said that the killing of Alegre was “well-planned by presumed “killers.” He added that the assailants followed Alegre for two weeks prior to the ambush. — Jave A. Matugas (FREEMAN)