Saturday, October 04, 2008 Drug peddling suspect charged for attack on mayor’s in-law
POLICE in Cordova town filed a case of frustrated murder against an alleged drug peddler for leading the ambush that nearly killed the brother-in-law of Mayor Adelino Sitoy two days before the town’s fiesta last August.
The complaint relied on the affidavits of two witnesses who claimed they saw Estanislao Yap among the three armed men who shot Cecilio Ursal, 55, at midnight last Aug. 13.
Ursal was driving his motorcycle on his way home after attending the Employees’ Night, one of the fiesta activities.
Sitoy said the latest development in the case proved his suspicion that the ambush was drug-related, because Yap has been the target of a police operation as an alleged drug pusher.
Three months ago, he said, Yap eluded arrest, but the raiding team from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 allegedly recovered several plastic sachets of shabu from his house.
Silencers
“He has not been arrested until now, but when the court issues the arrest order, the police is sure to catch him in no time,” he said. He hopes that Yap’s arrest will also reveal the identities of his two cohorts in the failed attempt to kill Ursal.
The bullets that hit Ursal pierced his shoulder and thigh. The police suspect that the gunmen used 9mm pistols.
They also had silencers on their handguns because during the shooting that took place 500 meters from Ursal’s house, no gunfire was heard. Several people were on the road, walking home after watching the Employees’ Night.
‘No change’
Sitoy said that aside from being the chief of the Marine Watch Task Force protecting the marine sanctuaries in Gilutongan and Nalusuan islets and off Barangay Alegria, his brother-in-law is active in the anti-illegal drugs campaign.
Cecilio, being a retired Air Force sergeant, always has no second thoughts about confronting risks when implementing environmental laws and laws against illegal drugs.
“After the ambush, nothing has changed about him. Wala siya mangayo ug (He did not ask for) security because he can protect himself. Ang amo lang ini mataral sa hukmanan ang mga nakasala (We just want the culprit convicted in court),” Sitoy said. (AIV)
