THE persons responsible for the shooting death of a barangay councilor in Balamban town, midwest Cebu have already been identified based on the testimony of some witnesses and the CCTV evidence.
The fatality, identified as Barangay Cansamoroy councilor Anastacio Pacquiao, 60, was running for barangay captain of Cansamoroy.
Pacquiao was driving a motorcycle when he was shot by a gunman on a motorcycle on the national highway in Prenza, Balamban on Thursday, October 5, 2023.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Glenn Hife, chief of Balamban Police Station, claimed that the perpetrators were hired guns who had records at the station, including outstanding arrest warrants, and were only residing nearby.
However, he declined to divulge their names while the investigation was still ongoing.
As part of their investigation, the Balamban police are currently conducting manhunt operations and backtracking the CCTV footage in an effort to apprehend the criminals.
"Ang kining mga suspect identified naman nato ni, naa ni silay record nga mga pending warrant of arrest nga atung gitan-aw," Hife said.
(These suspects have been identified, they have pending warrant of arrest, which we are looking into).
Hife said they were now looking into politics or personal grudge as the possible motive for the killing.
It was alleged that Pacquiao got into an argument with someone last month due to a land dispute.
It was learned that the victim also sidelined as a habal-habal driver.
Hife said that during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, the victim was active in the campaign against illegal drugs.
Before he was elected to three terms as a councilor, Pacquiao was part of the Civilian Volunteer Organization.
He also served as a barangay tanod in Cansomoroy.
Even though it has not yet been established whether the incident was related to the election, the Police Regional Office (PRO 7) stated that it should be taken seriously because the victim was a candidate.
"Well this is a serious matter for us because this is a murder incident and the victim is a candidate, surely amo gyud ning i-consider in our adjustment sa security deployment," Pelare said.
According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare. spokesperson for PRO 7 Director Brigadier General Anthony Aberin, there is a possibility that they will implement security adjustments in Cansamoroy for the October 30 Barangay and Sanguniang Kabataan Election as a result of the incident.
Even though the deployment of personnel for the BSKE has already been planned, Pelare said they still have to consult with the Commission on Elections and the Regional Joint Security and Control Center (RJSCC) regarding the security issue in their next meeting.
The RJSCC has been able to identify 41 areas in the Central Visayas as areas of concern and immediate concern based on the incidences in the previous barangay election.(AYB, TPT)