Witnesses ID shooter in Toledo ambush

CEBU, Philippines - The Toledo City police have identified one of the suspects in the ambush of Barangay Capitan Claudio chief Alexander Alqueza in the city last Monday afternoon. 

The ambush led to the death of Alqueza’s common law wife, Irene, a councilwoman of the barangay.

Police said operation is ongoing to arrest the gunman.

Chief Insp. Michael Bastes said they have identified the gunman but the identity will remain confidential until the investigation is finished.

The gunman was reportedly identified based on the description given by witnesses who were near the victims during the shooting. 

Alqueza, 68, is in stable condition.

Bastes said he will speak with Alqueza once the barangay captain is able to converse.

“Makigstorya pa ko niya para matanaw nato kung naa ba siya’y mga kontra nga posibling mobuhat ani,” Bastes said.

“We will investigate further on the circumstance of the shooting so that our investigation will be on the right tract,” Bastes said.

Police Regional Office-7 director, Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, said they are considering the possibility that the case Alqueza filed before the Ombudsman might have something to do with shooting. Personal grudge is also an angle.

“Pero masasabi ko hindi na man politics ‘yun (But I can say that it has  nothing to do with politics),” Constantino said.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Associations of Barangay Councils in the province is looking at options on how it can help the families of the barangay officials.

Board Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, the president of the ABC, said he is checking if the barangay officials are covered by accident insurance.

Martinez said he will also see if the national government through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has insurance benefits for barangay officials who die in line of duty.

“Whatever it is, we are trying to provide assistance to the families,” he said.

 Martinez said his office is now coordinating with the office of Toledo City Mayor Sonny Osmeña and the city’s ABC President Edgardo Aguilar.

Martinez said he is also in contact with Cebu Provincial Police Office director, Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac, to keep updated on the status of their investigation.

“We will just continue to get update from Provincial Director Gillamac. He already told me naa na sila’y angle leading to the shooting. Nangayo lang sila og clear cut unsay motive to back up their investigation,” he said.

The victims were ambushed by three unidentified men on a motorcycle in Barangay Carmen, Toledo City. Alqueza was driving a multicab when the incident happened.

Alqueza, a retired policeman, suffered gunshot wounds to his back, left ear and chest. Wamilda only suffered gunshot wound to her left shoulder, however, the slug went through the left side of her torso. There were no signs of an exit wound. — (FREEMAN)