Bagaporo, along with his wife, two daughters and a nephew, had just stepped out of the Hall of Justice along Bishop Hayes Street when one of the suspects approached him and shot him pointblank several times, probers said.
The victim sustained seven gunshot wounds - one tore through his left lower cheek and exited on his head, causing his immediate death, medical personnel at the Maria Reyna Hospital told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
Witnesses said the two gunmen fled towards the direction of Cogon Market in a black Honda Wave underbone-type motorcycle with no license plate. Several police personnel who happened to be in the area chased the gunmen but to no avail.
Police Inspector Buenaventura Reyes, station commander of Cogon Police, said a Lanao del Norte policeman is being held for questioning but was not considered yet a suspect.
PO1 Kenneth Phillip Latoza was intercepted by police checkpoint in Barangay Bulua after his motorcycle matched the description of the getaway vehicle driven by the suspects.
However, Inspector Buenaventura said witnesses-including Bagaporo's relatives-did not positively identify PO1 Latoza as one of the suspects.
Sources at the Hall of Justice said Bagaporo was at the City Prosecutor's Office Friday to attend to a robbery complaint against him.
He was charged of stealing P3.5 million worth of jewelry by Fernando Omictin and Ida Nakagawa, both residents of Laguindingan town in Misamis Oriental, sources said.
A relative of Bagaporo, however, said the case was on the verge of being thrown out by the City Prosecutor for lack of evidence.
The relative, who spoke in condition of anonymity fearing reprisal, said they suspected that the Laguindingan police had something to do with the killing.
He said Bagaporo had filed administrative cases against the policemen for wrongful arrest before the Ombudsman. (DVA)
