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Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Rob suspect gunned down
By Mia E. Abellana
With Jovy S. Taghoy
CEBU CITY -- Still clutching his discharge sheet from the Cebu City Jail, Rodulfo “Dupong” Atega Jr., 21, a suspected robber, was shot dead while he was inside a taxicab at the corner of Gen. Maxilom Ave. and D. Jakosalem St. about 7:45 Tuesday night.
Atega’s father Rodulfo Sr. told reporters that they had just come from the Cebu City Jail in Barangay Kalunasan. Atega was released at 7:25 p.m., as stated in the jail’s logbook.
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Atega’s brother, girlfriend and uncle were also in the taxi.
They hailed a cab driven by Cerelino Alcordo, 35, and asked him to take them to Pier 3 where they planned to catch a boat for Bohol Province.
Alcordo, who drove the Vans System taxi, said that when they reached the corner leading to the Redemptorist Church, his passengers panicked and told him to drive faster.
Rodulfo Sr. said they noticed two men on a motorcycle following them, which was why they wanted Alcordo to lose them.
They would have gone straight down Gen. Maxilom Ave. to proceed to the pier area.
But since his passengers were already rattled, Alcordo turned right to a gasoline station and took a shortcut to D. Jakosalem St.
He would have gone faster, but oncoming vehicles forced him to slow down, allowing the two men on the motorcycle to catch up.
The motorcycle passenger leapt and proceeded to the left side of the taxi, while the driver drove to the right side.
Atega was seated at the leftmost side of the cab, behind the driver.
When the first shots were fired, Alcordo said all he could do was pull up the handbrake and run for his life.
“The gunshots were so loud, all I did was cover my ears,” he said in Cebuano.
Everyone else also panicked and fled, except Rodulfo Sr., who was in the front seat.
“I had difficulty opening the door. Everyone fled, even the driver. When I looked back, he was dead,” Rodulfo Sr. said.
Atega suffered two gunshot wounds in the head.
Insp. Mario Monilar, Homicide Section chief, told Sun.Star Cebu that Acting Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador’s order to him was to prioritize the investigation on Atega’s killing.
“Look at all angles,” Monilar quoted Comendador as saying.
The assailants quickly fled to D. Jakosalem St. No one was able to see their faces as they both wore crash helmets.
Asked who he thought was behind the killing, Rodulfo Sr. said he was sure it was connected to his other son’s death.
Harris Atega was shot dead along Tormis St., Barangay Sambag 1, Cebu City last Jan. 10. Harris had been mistaken for a field training policeman.
Rodulfo Sr. said that even before Harris was buried, someone sent Atega a text message, telling him he would be next.
However, he is not sure why someone wanted his sons dead. "It would have been better if we did not post bail,” Rodulfo Sr. said in Cebuano.
Police are considering the possibility that Alega was killed by the group of Albert Almedilla alias Way Sala, who was earlier tagged by Alega as the one who killed Harris.
Almedilla allegedly belongs to the Roy Fernandez robbery band, of which Harris was said to be a former member.
Fernandez and Almedilla were among the cohorts mentioned by robbery group leader Cresencio “Bruts” Reguya when he was arrested in Tagbilaran City last Aug. 28.
Atega was arrested in his house in San Miguel, Bohol Province by a four-man team from the Cebu City Police Office last Aug. 29 based on a warrant for robbery issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Fortunato de Gracia.
Atega’s capture was made less than 24 hours after the arrest of robbery group leader Casimero “Meloy” Atega and three other members identified as Reguya, a former civilian military volunteer, Gilven Nuez and Sofronio Remoreras.
Atega had denied involvement in any of the robberies implicating him as one of the perpetrators. He also denied being a member of the Casimero Garcia Robbery Group.
Atega said it was not him but his brother Harris who belonged to the group.
It was Garcia who informed him and his family about the killing of Harris, Atega had said when he was presented to reporters.
Monilar observed that the manner of execution was similar to that of Brando Babao, who was shot dead after posting bail last July 24.
He said it is likely that the killers of Babao and Atega belong to the same group.
“The way it (Atega killing) was executed shows that the shooter was very skilled,” Monilar said.
Rodulfo Sr. said his son took a nautical course in Tagbilaran City but stopped because he began drinking with friends he met at school.
Atega also took up a care-giving course but stopped again after Harris was killed. Rodulfo Sr. said his son was never involved in robberies. (Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (September 5, 2007 issue)
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