CEBU CITY – A day after a former town mayor was killed in his hospital room, Cebu was rocked again by a daring attack after a policeman was gunned down by motorcycle-riding assailants in broad daylight yesterday.
Police Chief Master Sgt. Deogenes Carrillo was driving a Toyota Hi-lux when he was waylaid past 10 a.m. in Barangay Poblacion, Cordova town.
Carrillo, who was the acting deputy chief of Cordova Police Station, died on the spot. The policeman was on his way home to Barangay Punta Engaño in Lapu-Lapu.
Police Lt. Col. Eloveo Marquez, the chief of Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, revealed that there were reports that the policeman was involved in illegal drug activities. “According to the report of the chief of police in Cordova, he was involved in illegal drugs and that’s the reason why he did not qualify for promotion,” said Marquez.
Marquez added that investigators will also look into personal grudges as possible motive of the killing. “He was running a lending business. It’s possible that some people were mad at him,” said Marquez.
The attack in Cordova took place while police are still investigating the killing of Ricky Ramirez, the former mayor in Medellin town, northern Cebu.
Past 11 p.m. last Tuesday, at least 15 armed men stormed the Bogo-Medellin Medical Center where Ramirez was confined since July 2017.
Four of the armed men broke into Ramirez’s room by shooting the door knob. Once inside, the intruders disarmed jail officer detailed to the former mayor, who ran to the comfort room along with the girlfriend of his son.
Police theorized that Ramirez ran to the comfort in the hopes of escaping through the window but the assailants followed him there and peppered him with bullets.
At least 35 spent shells for an M4 rifle and .45 caliber pistol were recovered in the crime scene. The former mayor suffered gunshot wounds in the body and head.
“We have interviewed the staff and personnel of the hospital. We are hoping that we could get leads with their statements,” said Police Major Audie Pelayo, chief of the Medellin police.
Pelayo said they were not able to get footages of security cameras that may have captured the assailants before and after the attack. The hospital, which didn’t have security cameras, is situated in a secluded area about two-and-a-half kilometers from the police station, Pelayo said.
Investigators were also able to talk to one of Ramirez’s son. “The son told us that his father didn’t mention that he had threats. They don’t have any idea who could be behind the killing,”Pelayo said.
A special investigation task group (SITG) has been formed to investigate the killing.
Ramirez was arrested in July 26, 2017 after police found unlicensed high-powered firearms and drug-sniffing paraphernalia during a raid in his home. Ramirez was placed under hospital arrest after he complained of chest pains. (Calvin Cordova)
