ALMOST a month after surviving an ambush, San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya visited the office of Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Debold Sinas to ask for updates on the investigation.
Sinas informed Reluya that the multiple murder complaints were filed against alleged hitmen Jerome Labitad and Felix Abacajan Jr.
The suspects were identified as part of the group that attacked Reluya’s van in Barangay Linao, Talisay City last Jan. 22. The mayor’s husband and two others died in the incident while Reluya and two of her aides survived.
Sinas showed the evidence to Reluya, whom he said was satisfied with the presentation.
Reluya, however, asked the police official not to pursue the complaints against Abacajan and Labitad if they will not be able to conduct a comprehensive investigation and arrest the mastermind.
“She wants us to dig deeper into the incident so we can get the motive... she’s very cooperative,” Sinas said.
The police are looking for the suspects. Sinas said Labitad had fled to Mindanao, while Abacajan is reportedly in hiding in the mountain villages of Talisay City and neighboring towns.
Reluya, in her affidavit, stated that she believed the ambush was politically motivated but Sinas said his investigators cannot determine yet if the mayor’s political opponents masterminded the attack.
The mayor based her claims on the threats posted on social media by Ruben Feliciano, her opponent in the mayoral race in the midterm elections.
Sinas said he does not know if the Reluya family has put up a reward for any person who can provide information that will lead police to the mastermind of the ambush.
He said a bounty can help the police identify the brains behind the attack.
Sinas said persons who have information on the incident can relay their messages to the police hotline 09177209843.
Reluya is expected to go back to work in March and has started looking for police officers who can secure her.
Sinas described Reluya to be in good condition after suffering graze wounds during the attack.
Reporters tried to interview Reluya but she avoided the journalists who waited for her outside Sinas’ s office at the PRO 7 headquarters in Cebu City. (From AYB of SuperBalita Cebu, KAL)