Cebu City, Philippines – Complaints of multiple murder, and multiple attempted murder will be filed against the primary suspects in the ambush of San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya, who still remain at large.
Jerome Labitad and former Maghaway, Talisay City village councilor Felix Abacajan Jr., were tagged by police as the primary suspects behind the ambush of Reluya and five others.
Read more: Police have identified prime suspect in Mayor Reluya’s ambush
Senior Superintendent Manuel Abrugena, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), said the bullets found on the crime scene of the Reluyas’ ambush in Barangay Linao, Talisay City, and the shootout between police and Labitad in Barangay Kampo 4, also in Talisay City, matched, based on the results of the ballistic examination they requested from the crime laboratory of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
However, Abrugena said they are still left clueless as to who is the mastermind behind the ambush.
“We have to find, and apprehend yung mga prime suspects natin kasi sila yung makakapagturo,” Abrugena said.
Read more: Bloody night in Talisay City claims 4 lives, including town mayor’s husband
The charges will be filed before the weekend pending the arrival of the copy of the ballistic examination from the PNP.
The ambush occurred last January 22, 2019. A week later, on January 29, Labitad and law enforcers engaged in an hour long gunbattle at Barangay Kampo 4.
Read more: Police battle gun-for-hire group believed to be behind the Reluya ambush but suspects escape
Reluya survived the ambush but her husband, Panadtaran Village Chief Ricardo Reluya, and two others died. /bmjo