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Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Ex-MisOcc mayor killed in court shooting
MANILA -- A former mayor of Misamis Occidental was shot dead by a lone gunman, clad in a police uniform, while he was attending the hearing on the murder case filed against him before the Manila City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Tuesday morning.
Manila Police District Director Roberto Rosales identified the fatality as Reynaldo Yap, a former mayor of Sapang Dalaga town in Misamis Occidental, who had been charged for allegedly killing a political rival, Victorino Cebedo sometime in 1992.
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Police said Yap was inside the sala of Judge Zenaida Daguna at 9:10 a.m. Tuesday when the killer drew out a handgun and opened fire at the victim.
Yap died on the spot while two other persons inside the courtroom were injured in the incident.
Police uniform
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Avelino Razon Jr. immediately ordered an investigation as to why the gunman was able to take hold of a police uniform.
He said the sale of police uniforms and other paraphernalia for policemen are supposed to be regulated.
"I have ordered General Rosales to continue with the (follow-up) operation and investigation to determine the motive of the incident," said Razon.
He added: "We also have to determine why this incident occurred inside a courtroom so that a similar incident would be prevented."
'Weighty angles'
One of the Yap family's "political enemies" has asked the law enforcement authorities to also look on other "weighty angles" in the shooting of the former Misamis Occidental mayor.
This person, who spoke to Sun.Star on condition of anonymity, lamented that every time violence befell any of the Yaps, "the politics angle is easily dragged as a motive without equal regard to other possible motives."
"This shuts out exploring of other motives, which might be the real cause of the incidents. And this investigative posture does not serve the ends of justice well, rather it can be exploited as a scapegoat and eventually an instrument for hiding the true account of the crime committed," the source further said.
Security lapse
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has admitted that security lapse was one of the reasons why the assassination succeeded.
"We are exerting efforts on this," said Razon, referring to the investigation and possible measures that may be adopted to avoid a similar incident.
"We will draw lessons from this," the PNP chief also told reporters in Camp Crame.
Razon said the smuggling of firearms is nothing new.
He noted that on November 29 last year, military adventurists were able to bring firearms inside the Makati City RTC during a trial of Oakwood mutineers, leading to the Manila Peninsula Hotel standoff.
Sixth member
Reynaldo Yap is the sixth member of the Yap family to be killed -- three of the previous five linked to politics.
Reynaldo rose to power in Sapang Dalaga town during the post-Edsa 1 revolutionary government, succeeding his father, Rino Yap Sr., who held the mayoral post since 1971.
He eventually entrenched himself to power by winning three consecutive elections.
Barely warming his seat after clinching his third win in 1995, Reynaldo and his brother Roy were arrested in connection with the slaying of Rizal, Zamboanga del Norte mayoral bet Victorino Cebedo in 1992. (VR/Sunnex/With Ryan D. Rosauro of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (January 30, 2008 issue)
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