Calamba shooting: Police eye drug motive in killing of woman
Three suspects nabbed including two 16-year-olds
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Police are looking into drugs behind the killing of a still unidentified woman in Barangay Calamba, Cebu City, after authorities arrested three young male suspects in less than 24 hours following the shooting incident.
The suspects, arrested during a hot pursuit operation on Friday morning, May 22, included two 16-year-olds and an 18-year-old.
Authorities tagged one of the minors as the alleged gunman, another as the alleged keeper of the firearm used in the crime, and the 18-year-old as alleged lookout or spotter.
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Suspects traced through CCTV
In a press briefing, Police Colonel George Ylanan, director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said the shooting happened at around 5:40 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, in Sitio Miñulida, Barangay Calamba.
Ylanan said personnel of Sawang Calero Police Station and the Tactical Motorcycle Response Unit (TMRU) immediately launched a hot pursuit operation after the incident.
Authorities reviewed CCTV footage in the area and identified suspicious individuals seen before and after the shooting.
“Gi-backtrack all the available CCTV didto sa area. Kay didto sa area, naa may mga CCTVs, makita didto ang mga hitsura ning atong mga suspect,” Ylanan said.
( We backtracked all CCTV footage in the area and saw the faces of the suspects )
According to the police official, investigators first identified and arrested one alleged lookout through CCTV footage before eventually tracking down the two other suspects, including the alleged gunman.
Drug-related motive eyed
Ylanan said investigators are looking into illegal drugs as the possible motive behind the killing.
He added that authorities are also examining possible links between the incident and ongoing anti-drug operations in the city.
“Basta drug gyud ni ang reason,” Ylanan said, while stressing that the investigation remains ongoing.
( The drug angle is very much possible)
Authorities said the victim was allegedly linked to illegal drugs, although her identity has yet to be established as of this writing.
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“Related sad sa drugs ang victim, ang background. Kaya lang, ang problema namo, wala pa mi identity,” Ylanan said.
(The victim’s background points to her involvement in drugs. The problem, however, is that she remains unidentified)
Police Captain Noah Labra Añana, chief of Sawang Calero Police Station, also said residents in the area where the shooting happened did not recognize the victim.
“Sa incident area, bisan kinsa didto, wala’y nakaila niya,” Añana said.
(Nobody knows her within the incident area)
Añana also said initial investigation showed that the victim was allegedly contacted and told to enter a small alley before the shooting happened.
“Katong sa area, naa to siya daplin sa dan unya gi-contact siya nga pasudlon atong eskinita gamay,” Añana said.
The crime scene was just beside the road. She was told to enter that alley where she was gunned down)
When asked whether CCTV footage showed the suspects talking to the victim before the shooting, Añana said: “Wala na sila’y istorya. Diritso pusil na.” (They did not talk to each other. They just shot)
Suspects allegedly planned attack
During a media interview, the 18-year-old suspect admitted that the group was allegedly instructed by an older individual whom he referred to only as a certain “Manoy.”
According to the suspect, they were allegedly told to shoot the victim.
He also claimed the attack had been planned and that they were supposedly promised payment consisting of “three packs” and P5,000.
The suspect further claimed the killing may have been connected to an alleged unpaid “100 grams,” although he did not elaborate further.
He also said he allegedly served only as lookout while another suspect carried out the shooting.
Firearm, victim’s cellphone recovered
A police progress report said authorities arrested the suspects at around 8:50 a.m. on May 22 in Sitio Kawayan, Barangay Sambag 2.
Recovered during the operation were a .45 caliber pistol believed to have been used in the shooting, along with a magazine loaded with two live rounds of ammunition.
Police also recovered a blue Oppo A16 cellphone reportedly owned by the victim.
Ylanan said investigators are looking into the significance of the cellphone in the case.
“Ato pani ipa-check ang cellphone ngano ila gi-kuha pero I think mu-lead ni nila ang cellphone base on our investigation ila gitawagan ang biktima nga magkita sila so mao na ila gi-kuha ang cellphone para di sila ma-trace,” he said.
(We will have the victim’s cellphone thoroughly checked. Based on our investigation, they called the victim and instructed her to go to the area to meet them. That’s the reason they badly needed to secure the phone )
Authorities said all recovered evidence, including the firearm, will undergo ballistic examination, while the suspects will undergo paraffin testing.
Investigation ongoing
Police said the two minors will be referred for discernment proceedings, while the 18-year-old suspect may face charges as an accessory to murder.
Investigators are also looking into whether the alleged 16-year-old gunman may have been involved in previous shooting incidents.
According to Ylanan, the alleged gunman had previously undergone Operation Second Chance twice and earlier faced cases involving illegal drugs and illegal gambling.
As of this writing, police said they are continuing their investigation to identify other individuals who may have been involved in the Calamba shooting including the identity of “Manoy”.
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