THE bullet-riddled body of a member of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity was found inside his room on B. Aranas Ext. in Barangay Duljo Fatima, Cebu City in the wee hours of Saturday morning, Sept. 14, 2019.

Master Sgt. Nicolo Gonzales, investigator at the Mambaling Police Station, identified the victim as 32-year-old Jake Aleman.

According to initial investigation, Jake was fast asleep when 10 armed men arrived in two vehicles. Their faces were covered so they could not be identified. They forced open the main door before barging into Aleman’s room.

“Actually mao na ang gi ingon sa amahan sa pagkuha namo sa mga detalye apan sa among imbestigasyon amo gyud ni palawman (That’s what the victim’s father told us, but we will investigate further),” Gonzales said.

Oscar, Jake’s father, said his son was a fraternity member, but he didn’t think this had anything to do with his son’s death.

Scene of the Crime operatives recovered eight bullets from a still unidentified caliber in Jake’s room.

Police have yet to identify the motive for the attack.

Oscar, who lives at the back of Jake’s house, told Superbalita Cebu that while the armed men were still outside, witnesses saw them order some loiterers to get down before making their way to Jake’s house.

Oscar said the ruckus outside woke him up. He was about to go out and check what was going on when he heard several gunshots.

The elder Aleman said he stayed because he was afraid he would get shot.

Oscar said he couldn’t describe how he felt knowing that his son was in the next house getting killed.

“Wala koy mahimo bisan pa nga kanhi ko sundalo apan mibati ko og kahadlok sa maong panghitabo (There was nothing I could do even though I am a former soldier and I was also afraid),” he said.

He said he had an idea who might have been behind the killing, but he would rather keep it to himself for now.

He said Jake didn’t have any enemies.

Jake was a father of three. He was separated from his live-in partner. He was the third of four siblings. Aside from being a computer technician, he also owned several water vending machines in their area and in the neighboring barangay.

The Aleman family is demanding justice for Jake’s death. Oscar said they are willing to help the police with their investigation. (From BBT OF SUPERBALITA CEBU / PJB)