Police eye illegal drugs, revenge in killing of fish vendor in Pinamungajan, Cebu

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Police are considering illegal drugs and revenge as possible motives in the killing of a fish vendor in Pinamunhajan town a week ago.

Edilberto Lumontad died from four bullet wounds on his chest after he was allegedly shot by seven still unidentified men who barged into his home in Upper Campo in Barangay Poblacion on February 13, 2021.

READ: 51-year-old fish vendor shot dead inside his house in Pinamungajan, Cebu

Police Corporal Lyle Joseph Ugbanen, who is handling the case, said that a sibling told him that Lumontad was jailed for about a year from 2005 to 2006 because of a drugs case.

But he is yet to determine if the victim was a mere drug user or if he was a drug peddler.

Lumontad’s daughter had also informed him about threats to her father’s life, the reason why he left their home in Barangay Labangon in Cebu City to return to his hometown.

“Year 2018, samtang didto sila sa ilahang balay sa Labangon nakabantay ang biktima nga duna kunoy magsige og paniid sa iyaha. Magsgeg badhas-badhas sa gawas sa ilang panimalay. Sukad adto nagbantay bantay na siya sa iyang kaugalingon.”

(In 2018, while he still lived in Labangon, he noticed men who were watching over his movements.  He would see them pass by his home.  Since then, he became very cautious.)

Ugbanen said that they will continue to investigate Lumontad’s killing to especially identify the gunmen.

He does not discount the possibility that the suspects were hired guns considering the way that crime was executed.  Placing Lumontad under monitoring is also a trademark of professionals. / dcb