Saturday, May 17, 2008 Local bullies tagged as suspects
LAPU-LAPU City Police Office has identified the three suspects who killed and tried to rob SPO4 Asterio Butron, whom police said was a victim of a senseless death.
SPO2 Rolito Jumao-as, homicide section chief, said they have identified locals to be behind the killing but they are still withholding the names of the suspects while they are being pursued.
However, he hinted that the suspects are known bullies in the area.
Butron, who was moonlighting as a cab driver, was shot when he attempted to subdue three passengers who robbed him inside his taxi when they were on a dark area on Maximo Patalingjug Ave. in Barangay Basak.
Jumao-as added that the three suspects are not members of organized crime groups and are only amateurs.
“Dili, kanang mga badlungon nga mangsuyopay sab. Nataymingan lang gyud intawn tong pulis,” he said (They were just toughies and drug users. Sadly, they just chanced upon Butron).
However, he expressed optimism that they will arrest the three suspects soon since they have information that they are still in Cebu.
Homicide investigators believe the three suspects flagged Butron’s cab in Cebu City and asked to be brought to Lapu-Lapu City. They believe this is so since the taxi meter showed that the trip already cost P145.
Witnesses to the killing also reportedly showed up at the police office and helped investigators come up with cartographic sketches of the suspects.
A day after the robbery, Acting Lapu-Lapu City Police Office Director Louie Oppus already revealed the availability of witnesses who were able to describe the culprits.
The police are now pursuing the angle of robbery as a possible motive in the attack.
However, except for Butron’s 9mm pistol, the robbers did not take any money and other belongings from the victim.
Police believe Butron was shot by the suspects with his own 9mm, while another one shot him with a revolver.
Witnesses claimed that after they heard two gunshots inside Butron’s taxi, they saw the cop jump out of the vehicle and flag down another taxi.
He asked to be taken to the Mactan Doctors’ Hospital, which was about 200 meters away from where he was shot.
Autopsy results showed that he died of bleeding since he was not given immediate surgical attention.
One bullet entered his right cheek and went through his left jaw while the second bullet entered the right side of his back but missed his heart and lungs.
The family of Butron, who received a posthumous medal for heroism from the Police Regional Office 7, is planning to file charges against the hospital. (DRT of Superbalita)
