INVESTIGATORS in the killing of Danao, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental village chief Alfredo Zapanta have identified a lone person of interest (POI) who may have orchestrated the assassination.
Provincial Police Director Rolando Destura declined Monday, July 23, to elaborate how the male POI was linked to the murder of Zapanta.
Zapanta was gunned down by two still unidentified gunmen last July 13. Destura referred the POI as the mastermind of the killing.
"Di ko po muna mailalabas paano na-link para hindi madisturbo ang focus sa ongoing investigation natin pero isa lang ang ating person of interest sa ngayon (I cannot divulge yet how he was linked, so as not to disturb the ongoing investigation. We have one POI so far)," Destura said.
He also said the Task Force ABC d.e. Zapanta is already holding the information revealed by Governor Yevgeny Emano.
Investigators are looking at politics as possible motive and ruled out the angles on illegal drugs and personal grudges.
Emano earlier said that Zapanta disclosed some information related to politics before he was killed, which he opted to turn over to the investigators.
"Yan ang on-hand na information namin ngayon," Destura said.
The slain barangay captain was also supposed to meet with Emano in the afternoon on the day he was killed to talk about the no proper turnover of documents and the alleged P600,000 liquidation of funds and other properties of the barangay.
Provincial Administrator Jocelyn Matteo said the first council member Alberto Ompoc now sits as the barangay chairman by rule of succession. She said Ompoc has taken his oath of office three hours after Zapanta was killed.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Government raised the reward money to P200,000 for information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the suspects and mastermind.
Emano said the bounty would be given once charges are filed in court.
The governor said the task force decided to purchase two cellphones intended only for information related to the Zapanta case.
The hotlines are 0965-660-7394 (TM/Globe subscribers) and 0948-671-8779 (Talk N Text/Smart users).
Destura said inter-agency task force is still gathering solid evidences and witnesses to swiftly solve the case.
"The MisOr PPO is working hard to solve the case," Destura said.