Police not rushing charges vs gunman in Belmonte ambush

MANILA, Philippines - Police want to have an airtight case against the perpetrators of the ambush on Iligan City Rep. Vicente Belmonte and they are not in a hurry to file charges against the alleged gunman.

“We want to get the brains behind the attack. The arrested suspect was merely paid by the masterminds,” said Superintendent Bernardo Mendoza, spokesman for the Northern Mindanao police.

Alleged gunman Dominador Sumanduran Tumala, who was arrested last Saturday in Misamis Oriental, is being investigated for the slay try on Belmonte at the Laguindingan Airport last week.

Police said Tumala, a native of Zamboanga del Norte, was believed to be the one who shot at Belmonte’s vehicle.

Mendoza said the motive for the attack remained unclear, although Belmonte has expressed suspicion that it was politically motivated.

“We don’t entertain allegations, we need to support statements with evidence,” Mendoza said.

He said there is no doubt that Tumala was the gunman since the victims and witnesses identified him as the one who shot at the vehicle of the lawmaker.