Sunday, October 29, 2006 Victim linked to bank manager’s death?
THE man who was killed in Peace Valley Subdivision, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City last Friday was identified as Pedro C. Vidal Jr., 19, of Pier 5 in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.
Vidal, who is considered by the police as the 176th victim of vigilante-style killings in the city, was identified by Elizabeth Pregoner, 36, who also lives at the port area.
Homicide Section Chief Erlando Metante told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday that Vidal was a snatcher and robber in the port area and was considered one of the suspects in the robbery and killing of bank manager Narciso Damole last Sept. 19 in Mandaue City’s North Reclamation Area.
Mandaue City Police Office Director Eduardo Catabas, in a separate interview yesterday, however, said he will not confirm it yet if Vidal was considered one of the suspects.
He said his office, the National Bureau of Investigation 7 and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 7 are coordinating to help solve the crime.
Metante said they are inclined to believe that the perpetrators took Vidal to Peace Valley from the port area and killed him there.
Vidal died of gunshot wounds in the abdomen and in the left side.
Ronel Rosal, 26, a habal-habal driver who found Vidal on the road as he was going downhill, said he heard two bursts of gunfire.
He did not see the perpetrators, though.
Since Dec. 22, 2004, at least 176 people have been gunned down vigilante-style in Cebu City by motorcycle-riding men while they were walking, sleeping or simply killing time in or near their homes. Church officials and a lawyers’ group have condemned the killings. (JST)
