A DABAWENYO lawyer criticized Thursday the management of the Gaisano South Citimall for being uncooperative in the police investigation in the recent mall shooting involving Buluan Vice Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu.
In a press conference, lawyer Alexis Lumbatan said they have been asking for a copy of the footage taken from the CCTV camera of the mall at the time the shooting happened Thursday evening last week.
Lumbatan was referring to the incident that involved Buluan Vice Mayor Mangudadatu and his two bodyguards, Police Officers 1 Ibrahim Langalen and Surab Lintukan Bantas.
Mangudadatu's two police escorts allegedly shot and killed Tamano Kagi Kamendan at the fourth floor of Gaisano South Mall around 7:30 p.m. of February 11.
Sun.Star Davao tried getting the reaction of the mall's manager identified as a certain Evelyn Young but she did not reply to text messages nor accepted calls Thursday afternoon.
Lumbatan said the mall management is claiming that they have no CCTV camera installed at the fourth floor where the shooting happened.
CCTV cameras are said to be installed only at the mall's grocery section at the ground floor.
Natividad Kamendan, wife of the victim, however said an employee of the mall informed her few days ago that the mall's fourth floor has CCTV camera.
Lumbatan said the mall management seemed to have barred their employees from saying anything to the police investigators as well.
He said when they went to the mall asking around for the sales crew who were present during the incident, all of the employees claimed to be not present when the shooting incident happened.
"Sabi nila ni-rotate na daw yung mga employees na andun sa fourth floor ng mangyari yung insidente. Mukhang may gag order ang management sa kanilang mga employees," Lumbatan said.
Lumbatan said the footage from the CCTV camera would finally reveal the truth as to what really transpired before, during and after the shooting incident. The victim's wife claimed Mangudadatu ordered his bodyguards to shoot Kamendan after a brief conversation.
Mangudadatu, on the other hand, denied ever talking with Kamendan at the mall and claimed that the victim tried to grab her young daughter prompting his bodyguards to chase Kamendan and shoot him.
Kamendan sustained 10 gunshot wounds in his head and body. Most of the wounds were found at the victim's back suggesting that he was shot while already lying face down on the ground.
Lumbatan said if the mall management still refuses to release the CCTV footage, then they will be forced to file charges against them as well.
Murder charges have been filed against Mangudadatu and his two police bodyguards.