A MEMBER of the Mobile Patrol Group of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) was shot dead in Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2020.
The victim was 29-year-old Corp. Marlon Belleres, a resident of Phase 2 Deca Homes, Barangay Dumlog.
Major Gerard Ace Pelare, chief of the Talisay City Police Office, said Belleres was on his way to work when an unidentified assailant onboard a motorcycle shot him six times.
Initial investigation showed that Belleres suffered gunshot wounds in the neck and shoulder, which resulted to his death.
The victim’s cellular phone is missing, but operatives believe bystanders took it. Police will conduct an operation to locate it.
Authorities are looking into “love triangle” as a possible motive.
“It was a lone gunman, which would be indicative of the grudge held against the victim. Usually, there are always two people involved in a gun-for-hire. But in this case, it seems that the perpetrator took the initiative so it’s either love triangle or personal grudge,” Pelare said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Based on the security camera footage, the assailant was roving around the subdivision before the incident happened.
The assailant was around five feet and six inches tall and he wore a full-face helmet.
A special investigation task group has been formed to fast-track the arrest of the gunman.
The Regional Special Operations Group 7 and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 7 are also investigating the shooting.
Col. Hector Grijaldo, newly appointed CCPO director, described Belleres as a “good” cop.
Grijaldo said it was possible that the victim’s phone was taken by the assailant to hamper investigation. (AYB, RTF)