THE top Central Visayas police official doubts that an illegal drug group masterminded the murder of former Lagtang, Talisay City barangay captain Mark Ferdinand “Dindin” Bas.
Chief Supt. Debold Sinas said Bas possibly went into hiding after the latter received threats on his life.
Sibonga Deputy Police Chief Darline Banogon said the culprits were mad at Bas as the victim succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in the head and other parts of his body. More than 10 empty shells were recovered in the crime scene.
Bas had been included in the narco-list of President Rodrigo Duterte and he was an alleged associate of self-confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones.
The former village official was shot dead inside his rented house by unidentified gunmen past 11 p.m. last Sunday in Sitio Dumlog, Barangay Simala, Sibonga.
Sibonga police only learned of Bas’s presence in Simala after his murder. He reportedly introduced himself as Jap to his neighbors.
Sinas, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 director, said there is a possibility that drug groups are going after each other for territorial control.
The police official said these groups have been affected by their anti-narcotics operations in the past three months.
He said drug groups employed their hitmen to kill the persons who failed to pay their dues.
Meanwhile, Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Manuel Javier Abrugena said they still have no persons of interest, who may have knowledge or involvement in Bas’s murder because the witnesses refused to cooperate.
Abrugena said the witnesses will only give their testimonies if they remain anonymous for their safety.
He said the caretaker who saw three of the five gunmen will be given protection in the course of their investigation.
“Para mas makuha namin yung loob niya to give information (So we can let him speak out),” he said.
Abrugena said there is no need to create a special investigation task group as Bas was not an incumbent government official.
Bas was the son of Talisay City Councilor Arturo Bas. The younger Bas was arrested in April 2017 for keeping a gun, grenade and ammunition inside his house.
He was the father of 23-year-old Art Stephen Bas, a Lagtang councilor who was shot dead last July 20 by two unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants while driving his vehicle along South Road Properties. (KAL)