Drug links, work eyed as possible motives in cop’s killing inside Danao RTC

File photo of SPO2 Francis Villamor | PHOTO COURTESY OF PRO-7

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Investigators are focusing on work and illegal drugs as possible motives behind the killing of Senior Police Officer 2 (SPO2) Francis Allen Villamor, who was shot dead by still unidentified assailants in the lobby of a trial court in Danao City, Cebu last Thursday, March 21.

Superintendent Eloveo Marquez, Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) public information officer, confirmed reports that Villamor attended two court hearings held in the Danao City Regional Trial Court (RTC) shortly before he was killed.

Marquez said in both hearings, Villamor, who was assigned in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), was the arresting officer of two suspects accused and tried for charges involving illegal drugs and illegal possession of firearms.

“So far, we found out nga before sa (shooting incident), ni attend siya ug duha ka kaso in relation to his work as a member sa PIB (Provincial Intelligence Branch of CPPO),” said Marquez.

(So far, we found out that before the [shooting incident], he attended two hearings in relation to his work as a member of the PIB [Provincial Intelligence Branch of CPPO.])

“Siya ang arresting officer sa duha ka suspects nga si Julius Caesar Macuto (nga nag-atubang ug kaso sa drugs) ug si Gerson Enriquez nga naay kaso for violation of R.A. (Republic Act) 10591 or illegal possession of firearms,” he added.

(He is the arresting officer of two suspects — Julius Caesar Macuto (who is facing a drug case) and Gerson Enriquez who is facing a case of violation of R.A. (Repulblic Act) 10591 or illegal possession of firearms.)

Marquez said they were also investigating if Villamor’s death could be related to accusations that the policeman was allegedly involved in the illegal drugs trade.

READ MORE: Cop shot dead in Danao City trial court building

Meanwhile, Marquez said investigators from the Danao City Police Station were trying to obtain the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage in the hopes of identifying Villamor’s gunman, who escaped on board a white sedan.

Villamor, who was still wearing his police uniform, was shot dead inside the lobby of Danao City RTC.

He was a member of the PIB from 2012 until 2016 when former Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa ordered a revamp among policemen in Central Visayas following reports that some of them were allegedly involved in the illegal drugs trade.

Before Villamor was relieved and reassigned to ARMM, he also happened to be a recipient of several awards for being part of successful anti-drug operations in Cebu.

READ MORE: Cop killed in Danao: Who was SPO2 Francis Villamor?