TWO police officers, including an inactive officer, were shot dead by unidentified assailants in the cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu during the Christmas break.
Police are now looking at the angle that PO2 Romeo Jumalon, who was shot dead by four men in Barangay Pit-os in Cebu City on Sunday, Dec. 23, may have been murdered because of his work as a casino financier.
On the other hand, investigators say former police officer Faruok Mustapa Miguel, 30, may have been killed due to a personal grudge. He was shot to death by unidentified assailants in Sitio Iba, Barangay Basak in Lapu-Lapu City on the afternoon of Christmas Day, Dec. 25.
Senior Insp. Alvin Llamedo, Talamban Police Station chief, said they are pursuing the angle that Jumalon served as a casino financier for a big hotel in Barangay Lahug just before he was murdered.
Jumalon, who was last assigned at the Regional Personnel Holding and Administrative Unit (RPHAU) of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7, was on his way to attend Misa de Gallo when he was shot dead outside his house.
Before his current assignment, Jumalon reportedly worked as driver to former police regional director Marcelo Garbo, said PRO 7 director Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas.
But Sinas declined to comment if Jumalon’s death might have been related to the controversial police general.
Sinas added Jumalon’s family will still receive financial assistance from the PNP since his name was not included in the list of police officers allegedly involved in illegal drug activities.
Llamedo said just before he died, Jumalon was allegedly employed by a retired police officer who has a legitimate casino financing business.
Jumalon’s casino financing gig reportedly catered to some Korean nationals who liked to gamble, Llamedo said.
A reliable source who requested anonymity told SunStar Cebu that a lot of people allegedly went to Jumalon’s house in Barangay Pit-os looking for him, but he was always not around.
The source said he was suspicious of how Jumalon was able to earn much despite his salary as a police officer.
Back in 2012, Jumalon was supposed to be removed from the police officer roster after he went absent without official leave (AWOL) but was reinstated in 2016 and was transferred to the Regional Security and Service Group (RSSG) 7.
He was eventually assigned at the RPHAU 7 in April this year, as confirmed by Supt. Jonathan Abella, chief of the Regional Personnel Division 7.
Aside from the Talamban Police Station, the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) of the Cebu City Police Office is also assisting in the probe on Jumalon’s murder, Llamedo added.
Meanwhile, police investigators in Lapu-Lapu City have also found a possible angle relating to Miguel’s death.
Police found that a minor working as a tricycle driver may have shot Miguel, a former police officer based in Marawi City. Both Miguel and the alleged suspect are members of a Muslim community in Barangay Basak.
But investigators are still conducting a deeper investigation as Miguel’s neighbors refused to cooperate with police out of fear of retaliation from the suspect.
Chief Insp. Juan Capacio, Marigondon Police Station chief, said that based on their investigation, Miguel allegedly had a personal grudge with the suspect, which led to a fistfight on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.
Leaders of the community tried to settle the matter between the two, but this was thwarted after they found out that the suspect had already killed Miguel.
Miguel sustained bullet wounds on his back, resulting in his death.
To prevent trouble escalating within the Muslim community in Barangay Basak, leaders of Miguel’s community went to the office of Lapu-Lapu City Police Director Senior Supt. Limuel Obon to settle the matter.
It was during the meeting that Miguel’s background as a former cop and his alleged involvement in illegal drugs was disclosed, Obon said. AYB and GCM of Superbalita Cebu / JKV