INVESTIGATORS are looking into drug-related angle as possible motive for the killing of a jeepney driver Tuesday, February 12, after learning that the victim had once turned himself in to authorities under the government's anti-illegal drug campaign "Oplan Tokhang."
Senior Inspector Lemuel Sabanal, police station 1 deputy chief, said they will coordinate with the barangay officials of Gusa to get further details as to the possible involvement of the victim, Cynth Allan Joseph Sullano, to illegal drug activities.
"Sa nakuha nato nga detalye naa siya'y linkages sa illegal drugs kay previously nag surrender mani siya sa Oplan Tokhang sa barangay so gitagaan nato og possibility ang angulo sa droga," Sabanal said.
But the police did not discount the possibility of personal grudge as motive.
"Another angle na kay so far wala pa tay nakuha nga detalye nga naa siya'y personal nga nakabikil," he added.
Sabanal said the unidentified gunman who pretended to be a passenger got in the jeepney in Lapasan highway and seated beside the driver's wife at the front seat.
Upon reaching Tiano-Echem streets, the suspect shot the driver at close range and immediately disembark together with other passengers.
The victim succumbed to four gunshot wounds to the head and did not get to the hospital alive.
A footage of a security camera showed the suspect wearing a bull cap, a jacket and short pants, who fled towards the Capistrano-Abellanosa road.
"Ingon sa mga tanod nga ang suspek na diay tong nag-ingon sa ila nga naay shooting incident pero wala na nila maklaro ang dagway kay nakakalo," Sabanal said.
Sabanal said they have requested the police cyber-crime unit to enhance the footage of the Closed-Circuit Televsion (CCTV) camera to help identify the gunman.
Investigators are also looking for other security cameras from nearby establishments that might have clearly captured the face of the suspect.
Sabanal also said his men have immediately responded to the crime scene and launched a hot pursuit operation but failed to capture the suspect.
"Ang atong kapolisan that time nag-conduct og checkpoint sa may MOGCHS dapit so dali sila nakaresponde," Sabanal said.