Businesswoman stable, names potential suspects

THE businesswoman who survived an ambush in Mandaue City has identified potential suspects, but investigators have yet to confirm her suspicions and figure out what provoked Wednesday morning’s attack.

Debbie Yu, 55, was in stable condition yesterday. Her driver remained in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Cebu City, a police official said.

For now, Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac, Mandaue City police chief, said he does not see the need to form a task force to investigate the ambush.

Isolated

But while Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes agrees with Gillamac that the attack was isolated, it also prompted him to discuss a plan to revive the assignment of at least one policeman to every barangay.

Yu, who owns DRBG Import Export Inc., was aboard her Toyota For-tuner driven by Sonny Mahilom, when two men on a motorcycle attacked them in Sitio Pilit, Bara-ngay Cabancalan, Man-daue City at 8:55 a.m. last Wednesday.

The gunmen were believed to have used KG-9 submachine pistols. The shots hit Mahilom in different parts of his body and head. Yu escaped, but was injured after hitting her head on the pavement when she jumped out of her vehicle.

Both victims underwent operations Wednesday night.

Invitation

Senior Insp. Elmer Fernandez, chief of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Mandaue City Police Office, said one person was invited to help in the investigation, but cannot be considered a potential suspect.

Some leads are also being traced to identify the culprits.

Fernandez said he is glad the families of Yu, 55, and Mahilom, 28, cooperated and gave information that guided police investigators.

While the police are not discounting other angles, Fernandez said the strongest possible motive for now is that the attack may be business-related.

The Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) has three witnesses, at least.

Gillamac said they also found the name of the registered motorcycle owner, but that the vehicle had been sold to another person. The latest owner remained unidentified yesterday.

Authorities said the businesswoman gave them the names of possible suspects.

Gillamac also said his office is doing its best to solve the case, and assured investors the shooting was isolated.

An employee, who asked not to be named, said DRBG exports fresh squids, but that Yu also reportedly lent money.

Residents near the crime scene pointed to where the gunmen positioned themselves, in the shade of a big Talisay tree.

Although he was hit in the head, Mahilum managed to maneuver the vehicle 200 meters, then ordered Yu to jump. She landed near the gate of her plant. The vehicle then rammed a backhoe some 300 meters from the scene of the shooting.

Eric Arcilla saw Yu sprawled on the road and rushed her to the hospital. By the time he came back, Mahilum was already brought to the hospital by someone else.

Mayor Cortes urged the police to solve the case quickly, pointing out the peace and order situation is one factor potential investors weigh.

The mayor will meet with barangay officials and the police to discuss the return of the “community cops” program, where a police operative was assigned to ccompany barangay tanods in their patrols and checkpoints.

Gillamac said they are studying the mayor’s plan.

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