CEBU, Philippines — The Special Intelligence Task Group (SITG) looking into the death of former Cebu police intelligence chief Lieutenant Colonel Joie Yape will trace his previous assignments to determine possible motives to his killing.
“Gahapon (Monday) nag-consolidate mi sa information nga nakuha namo, nakuha sa CIDG, nakuha sa RIU,amo syang gitan-aw tanan, gitimbang-timbang kung unsay motibo,” Police Major Elisandro Quijano told reporters Tuesday morning.
Quijano said that as to their present assessment on the case, the closest motive could be work-related.
He added that they will be back-tracking on Yape’s previous assignments since he was still the Cebu PIB chief up until his present assignment in IAS at Camp Crame before he was shot dead.
One of the most controversial cases under Yape’s watch was the arrest of Lugo, Borbon Barangay Captain Jinnefer Mercader last September 2, 2017. This information is being considered by the task group.
Mercader was arrested for firearms and drug violations and confessed to being a hitman of some politicians.
“Mao lagi na iyang mga previous record lagi during sa iyang pagka-PIB sa Cebu, iyang mga gikuptan nga mga kaso, mga capability sa mga akusado, mga suspect nga mubuhat ug ing ana. Gi-backtrack gyud na nato ilang capability sa pag resbak,” Quijano said.
Another angle that the SITG is eyeing is the alleged protection given by Yape to some politicians. Yape’s wife was a former board member of Misamis Occidental.
Moreover, another information surfaced that Yape is allegedly a relative of Parojinogs.
“Unya kaduha, murag duna toy nigawas nga relatives kuno na siya, di ko ka-confirm, kay ato raman na ipa-gather ang information nga atong nakuha diba, so dili sa ta mo-confirm nga relative kuno siya sa mga Parojinog, iyang asawa. Pero ato nang tan-awon nga posibilidad,” Quijano said. JMD (FREEMAN)