Still no leads in killing of Lapu Muslim Affairs head

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu—The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) has yet to determine the motive of the killing of Abdullah Pabilla, head of the Muslim Affairs here.

Pabilla was shot dead by two still unknown perpetrators riding a motorcycle near the Clean and Green Office within the Lapu-Lapu City Hall compound on Tuesday afternoon, February 23, 2021.

Police Colonel Arnel Banzon, LCPO city director, said that they are now coordinating with the family of the victim, to find out if Pabilla had received death threats before the incident.

“Nagpa-interview ta sa pamilya. Basin naa sila’y nadungog nga dunay threat sa iyaha,” Banzon said.

(We are interviewing the family. Maybe they might know if there were threats made.)

Banzon said that they will also be checking the CCTV cameras in the city hall compound, in the hopes that this will help determine the identity of the suspects.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan, for his part, said that he will be ordering the police to conduct a thorough investigation on the incident.

“I am directing Colonel Banzon to conduct a thorough investigation. Leave no stone unturned and serve justice to the family of Abdullah,” Chan said.

Chan said Pabilla has been serving as head of the Muslim Affairs even at the time of the Radaza administration.

He said Pabilla is a big loss to his administration as he plays an important role in uniting the Muslim communities in the city.

/bmjo