Driver Adhman Sigue Canangca-an was escorted by police at the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
(CDN Photo/Lito Tecson)
The driver of the getaway vehicle used by one of the alleged hitmen of a drug lord in Talisay City surrendered to police at past 9 p.m last Wednesday, about seven hours after they engaged police in a shootout.
Adhmann Sigue Canangca-an said his cousin, a policeman, persuaded him to surrender to authorities.
“Gusto nako i-clear ang akong name. (I wanted to clear my name),” he told reporters when he was brought by Talisay City policemen to the Cebu Provincial Police Office Thursday morning.
The 40-year-old Canangca-an said he only drove his cousin Felix Abacajan Jr., one of the targets of the police operation last Wednesday, and wasn’t involved in the shooting incident.
Despite his claim, charges of attempted murder will be filed against Canangca-an at the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office, said Supt. Germano Mallari, chief of the Cebu Provincial Police Intelligence Branch.
Recovered inside the Nissan Navara driven by Canangca-an were a bullet-proof vest, a gun box, and two cotton swabs.
Mallari said Canangca-an will also be subjected to paraffin test to find out whether or not he recently fired a gun.
Last Wednesday’s shootout led to the death of Felix’s younger brother Joeser and a certain Julian Bonghanoy Jr.
Felix and his brother Joeser were the subjects of a search warrant issued by Judge Gilbert Moises of the Regional Trial Court Branch 18 for illegal possession of firearms.
Felix, a barangay councilman of Maghaway, Talisay City and chairman of the village’s committee on peace and order, managed to escape after they boarded the vehicle driven by Canangca-an in the middle of the shooting.
Recovered inside Felix’s home in Barangay Maghaway, Talisay City were several firearms and ammunition.
Mallari said a hot pursuit operation is being conducted by the Talisay City police to arrest Felix who reportedly sustained a gunshot wound on his left shoulder.
“We’re coordinating with all hospitals in Cebu to trace the whereabouts of Felix,” he said.
Mallari said they are validating reports that Felix and his companions were connected to drug lord Franz Sabalones who already surrendered to the police.
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