AUTHORITIES will launch an in-depth investigation into the killing of a former police officer and pawnshop owner in a shooting incident in Tagum City.

Police Chief Superintendent Marcelo Morales, Davao Police Regional Office (PRO 11) regional director, ordered the provincial director of the Davao del Norte police office, Police Senior Superintendent Ferlu M. Silvio, to conduct in-depth probe on the incident to determine the motive behind the crime.

He also directed the creation of a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to expedite the probe to come up with a resolution as well as to coordinate with the families of the victims for their immediate assistance.

The shooting incident happened on February 5 at around 4:30 p.m. in Osmeña Street, Barangay Magugpo Poblacion, Tagum City. The victims were identified as Simplicio Samar Jr., 44, retired police and owner of Eagle’s Pawnshop, and resident of Purok Dela Cruz, Barangay Mankilam, Tagum City and Police Officer (PO) 3 Eduardo Badilla Bajalia, 53, and resident of Erlenville, Barangay San Miguel, Tagum City.

During that time the victims were having a conversation in the area when an unidentified man arrived and shot them.

Samar succumbed to gunshot wounds after he was hit in different parts of the body while Bajalia was able to retaliate against the shooter that resulted to the latter’s death.

Bajalia also sustained multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of the body and was rushed to Tagum Doctors’ Hospital and was placed under observation.

The suspect was further identified as Jhonrey Sabehon, 28, single, through the confirmation of his father Eduardo Sabehon, 59, married, barangay official and resident of Purok 6, Sitio Puyo, Barangay Sta. Emilia Laak, Davao de Oro who claimed his body.

PRO 11 has also referred the Ballistic Cross Matching with other similar cases to Davao Norte Provincial Crime Laboratory for those recovered firearms during the above incident.

“This office also discourages the public from disseminating irrelevant and unconfirmed information in social media and other platforms. This kind of information may somehow affect the conduct of investigation. We will release an official statement again as soon as collective information be enough to establish the concreteness of the facts of the case,” Morales said.