A POLICEMAN from Minglanilla was shot dead by unidentified assailants at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, in Sitio Lower, Barangay Calajoan, Minglanilla town.
The body of PO2 Lord Romyth Cañada, 38, of Sitio Bacay, Barangay Tulay, was riddled with bullets.
His in-law Ken Echavez, 36, who was with Cañada, sustained graze wounds on his brow and shoulder.
SPO2 Jefferson Base of Minglanilla Police Station said Cañada was having his car repaired in a shop in the area.
A black vehicle stopped by and the gunman stuck out the gun through the window and shot Cañada.
One of the witnesses said he was standing by the corner when he heard the gunshots.
“Nitukod siya (Cañada) nganha. Mao to natumba siya nya gitiwasan (He fell and the gunman finished him off),” the witness said.
He could not tell how many were in the vehicle, but he only saw one firearm.
“Tabang mi og duotduot nganhi para maplastar sa lugar kay maikog man ta sa kalsada. Pagkahuman, taudtaod nipaka ang buto. Tupad ming duha. Kaingon ko na maapil ko ato. Taod-taod naay awto nihunong wala na ko kahibaw unsay color ato. Nya ang mga sakyanan sa akoang customer nangabuak ang bildo. Mao to gipahibaw ang mga tag-iya (We tried to move back so they could pass by the road. Later, we heard gunshots. We (the victim and I) were beside each other. I thought I’d be shot, too. Later, a vehicle passed by; I could not remember the color. The glass of my customers’ vehicles was broken, so we had to inform them),” the witness said.
“Ang iyahang bayaw (Echavez) gitabangan siya. Nya gikuha ang armas sa iyahang bayaw nya mao to nibalos, nya wala man kabuto (His in-law tried to help him. He took the gun and tried to shoot back, but it did not fire),” the witness said.
The police rushed Cañada to the South General Hospital, but the latter was dead on arrival.
Minglanilla Police Chief Verniño Nosirale, in a talk with Superbalita Cebu, said they have yet to determine the motive behind the killing.
They also do not know yet the number of people inside the vehicle.
The police will also clarify reports that said the gunman talked with Cañada before the incident. Cañada, according to another witness report, also begged for his life before the shooting.
They will have to check if there is any CCTV footage in the area.
They are still trying to gather information about Cañada, although initially they know that he was formerly assigned in Minglanilla until he was transferred in 2017 to the Regional Police Holding Admin Units (RPHAU-7) allegedly because of neglect of duty.
Before his post in Minglanilla, Cañada was assigned at the Boljoon Police Station.
Nosirale said he still has to receive the victim’s case folder, which might shed light on Cañada’s case.
A source from the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) said Cañada is in the list of “narco-cops,” which is the reason he was removed from his post.
But Supt. Janette Rafter, Acting Chief of the CPPO, said they will try to investigate why the Police Regional Office 7 did not file a case against Cañada when he was in the narco list.
Cañada joined the police force in 2008, according to the records of the Personnel Division of PRO 7. (from GPL & AYB of Superbalita Cebu, JKV & MBV)