Monday, July 26, 2004
Police need witness to solve killing of lawyer Edward Du
By MIA E. ABELLANA
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE death of lawyer and businessman Edward Du last Feb. 19, 2003 remains a puzzle to police investigators.
Last month, Du’s widow Lili Ann went to the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office to ask about the status of the case.
Last week, though, Homicide Section Chief Mario Monilar may have stumbled on a lead. He told Sun.Star they have their attention on a man whom they believe was the gunman.
But the evidence police got are circumstantial and wouldn’t stand without a witness to identify the gunman.
Du had just come from the tennis court of Villa Aurora in Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City at 8 p.m. when shot. He was walking towards home, only 20 meters away.
A task force comprising the Homicide Section, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 and the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID) was created to solve the case.
But the investigation did not move.
Investigators earlier learned that Du had asked for help from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 after Cynthia Colegado allegedly gave him a transfer certificate of title for a P240,000 loan.
The documents turned out to be fake so he reported the matter to the NBI.
Colegado, of Mandaue City, allegedly called him again for another transaction in his office along D. Jakosalem St., Cebu City.
With the help of NBI agent Marc Bernados and investigator Michael Abarico, lawmen arrested Colegado and two others—Marivic del Corro of Lapu-Lapu City and a Mila Cabahug.
The NBI filed a case against them based on Du’s complaint.
Angles
In March last year, former CIDG 7 Chief Edwin Diocos also disclosed that Du suspended one of his employees, which led a labor union to file a case against him.
Another angle investigators looked into was a conflict the businessman had with a private car owner over a traffic incident. He also reportedly had a personal conflict over compensation.
Monilar said that while they wanted to arrest the gunman, they still need to locate a witness who had transferred residence outside Cebu.
He said that if the witness identifies their suspected gunman, this will lead them closer to the mastermind.
Without witness identification, they will have trouble filing a murder charge against the gunman.
Monilar admitted they have evidence that could lead them to the mastermind, but these are circumstantial.
They are exploring Du’s business dealings as a motive behind the killing.
Du owned Du Ek Sam Inc., which sold motorcycles and appliances. He was also engaged in land deals and lending.
Monilar said that so far, they have not stumbled on any other angles.
(July 26, 2004 issue)
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