Barangay captain, 65, riddled with bullets; Victim waged war on drugs in Toledo city

 KAP SHOT DEAD

Timoteo Largo

A barangay captain in Toledo City, midwest Cebu,  was gunned down yesterday morning a day after he allegedly told his mayor, John H. Osmeña, that he was getting threats in connection with his drive to stamp out  the illegal drug trade in his village.

Timoteo Sepada Largo, 65, chairman of barangay Cambang-ug, was riding his SUV when he was fatally shot several times  with an M16 rifle fired by a man police identified as his neighbor, Dionesio “Dioning” Juarez.

A passerby, Desiderio Badayos of Aloguinsan town,  was hit in the chest by a stray bullet. He was walking  by the road in sitio Cabulihan in barangay Ilihan where the attack took place.

Both victims   were taken to the hospital by an ambulance which was passing by moments after the attack.

The barangay captain  was declared dead at the Toledo City District Hospital.

Badayos, who was reportedly in serious condition, was transferred to a hospital in Cebu City.

Supt. Ricky Delilis, the city’s chief of police, identified the attacker as  Juarez, a neighbor of the slain barangay official.

The barangay official’s 24-year-old girlfriend, Julie Baroman, who was with the victim in the car was  unharmed.

She told  police they were on board a black Ford Everest sports utility vehicle and were heading home after dropping off Largo’s children in school when the suspect, who was in a red Multicab, blocked their path.

Juarez, who was carrying an M-16 rifle, alighted from the Multicab and approached the couple’s car. The barangay official  also got  out of the vehicle.

“Atong estoryahon lang ni p’re (Let’s talk this over, friend),” the barangay captain was quoted saying  as he walked towards  Juarez.

But the suspect  fired the Armalite at the victim.

“Pagkaigo, nidagan si Kap padung sa tindahan nga dili kaayo layo sa iyang gitindugan … unya gisundan siya ni Dioning ug pusil dayon makadaghan (After he got hit, the captain ran to a nearby store where he was finished off with more gunshots),” Baroman said.

After the shooting, the suspect aimed his rifle at the woman and warned  her not to talk about the incident. Juarez then boarded his Multicab and sped away.

Police found the Multicab abandoned in a rough road in sitio Panog in barangay Camban-ug that leads to sitio Ilag.

Supt. Delilis, who led the team of policemen, said they stopped the pursuit as the area was thickly forested.

He said they believe the suspect was familiar with the terrain as he was reportedly a member of a disbanded counter-insurgency militia that used to operate in the area.

A barangay captain in Toledo City, midwest Cebu,  was gunned down yesterday morning a day after he allegedly told his mayor, John H. Osmeña, that he was getting threats in connection with his drive to stamp out  the illegal drug trade in his village.

Timoteo Sepada Largo, 65, chairman of barangay Cambang-ug, was riding his SUV when he was fatally shot several times  with an M16 rifle fired by a man police identified as his neighbor, Dionesio “Dioning” Juarez.

A passerby, Desiderio Badayos of Aloguinsan town,  was hit in the chest by a stray bullet. He was walking  by the road in sitio Cabulihan in barangay Ilihan where the attack took place.

Both victims   were taken to the hospital by an ambulance which was passing by moments after the attack.

The barangay captain  was declared dead at the Toledo City District Hospital.

Badayos, who was reportedly in serious condition, was transferred to a hospital in Cebu City.

Supt. Ricky Delilis, the city’s chief of police, identified the attacker as  Juarez, a neighbor of the slain barangay official.

The barangay official’s 24-year-old girlfriend, Julie Baroman, who was with the victim in the car was  unharmed.

She told  police they were on board a black Ford Everest sports utility vehicle and were heading home after dropping off Largo’s children in school when the suspect, who was in a red Multicab, blocked their path.

Juarez, who was carrying an M-16 rifle, alighted from the Multicab and approached the couple’s car. The barangay official  also got  out of the vehicle.

“Atong estoryahon lang ni p’re (Let’s talk this over, friend),” the barangay captain was quoted saying  as he walked towards  Juarez.

But the suspect  fired the Armalite at the victim.

“Pagkaigo, nidagan si Kap padung sa tindahan nga dili kaayo layo sa iyang gitindugan … unya gisundan siya ni Dioning ug pusil dayon makadaghan (After he got hit, the captain ran to a nearby store where he was finished off with more gunshots),” Baroman said.

After the shooting, the suspect aimed his rifle at the woman and warned  her not to talk about the incident. Juarez then boarded his Multicab and sped away.

Police found the Multicab abandoned in a rough road in sitio Panog in barangay Camban-ug that leads to sitio Ilag.

Supt. Delilis, who led the team of policemen, said they stopped the pursuit as the area was thickly forested.

He said they believe the suspect was familiar with the terrain as he was reportedly a member of a disbanded counter-insurgency militia that used to operate in the area.

Bystanders mill around the Ford Everest SUV of barangay Captain Timoteo Largo (above) who was fatally shot with an M-16 rifle yesterday morning in barangay Ilihan in Toledo City. A passing motorist, who was hit by a stray bullet, is in serious condition. (CDN PHOTO/ RENE ALIMA)

Motive
The suspect once worked at the Toledo City Hall’s Civil Security Unit, said Insp. Henry Acosta, chief of the Homicide Section of the Toledo City Police Office.

Juarez was once arrested for allegedly shooting the former head of the City Treasurer’s Office, Teria Albis, in a robbery attempt.

Albis’ driver was killed in the incident. Juarez was released after he got acquitted, police said.

Largo, a first-term barangay captain, stood for election in 2013 and won handily on a platform that he would wage a campaign against illegal drugs in his barangay.

After taking the reins of the village, Largo had signs posted in communities that say, “Ang drugas dili pwede sa akong barangay. Hununga na ninyo. Kini hangyo gikan sa mga ginikanan (Drugs have no place in my barangay. Stop your wrongdoing. This is an appeal from parents in this  community).”

The illegal drug problem in barangay Camban-ug  reached alarming levels prompting Largo to seek City Hall’s help.

Reports said Largo went to see Mayor Osmeña last Monday and  told him about the problem as well as the threats he’s getting from suspected drug operators.

Supt. Delilis said they got reports that drug personalities had tried to bribe Largo in a bid to make him abandon his campaign.

‘No typical criminal’
Supt. Rodolfo Albotra Jr., chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch, said they will reinforce the city police in pursuing the suspect.

He said Juarez, being armed with a high-powered firearm, is “not a typical criminal”.

While illegal drugs was identified as the primary motive for the killing, investigators are looking into other possibilities.

Delilis said Largo was allegedly tightly regulating quarrying in his area. Juarez, the suspect, reportedly wanted to get into the business but  barangay officials allegedly refused to grant him a permit.

Albotra also said that Largo was arrested by the PIB in 2013 for being in their watchlist as a big-time masiao (an illegal gambling game) financier in barangays Das and Cambang-ug.

He was arrested with 24 others, but was released after he managed to post bail.