No suspects yet in sheriff's murder
Police still do not have suspects in the brutal killing of sheriff Johnny Tugado Thursday night last week.
But Chief Insp. Larito Nobleza, chief of the 606th Provincial Mobile Group in Tigbauan, Iloilo which was tasked to handle the case, said they have already coordinated with the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 3 where Tugado works for possible background information on the writ of executions implemented by Tugado.
Nobleza theorized that Tugado's killing was related to his work as their initial investigation showed that he does not have any enemy in their place.
Tugado is responsible for implementing court orders issued by MTCC Branch 3 Presiding Judge Alexis Zerrudo.
Among the controversial writ of executions implemented by Tugado are that of the Bambi hogfarm case and the demolition of businesses of airport concessionaire Bernie Miaque in front of the old Iloilo Airport site in Mandurriao.
Sources close to Tugado revealed that the sheriff had told them that he had been receiving death threats because of his work.
He was even warned by a policeman friend during his 55th birthday last June 13 to be careful as there were information that he will be killed.
Oton acting police chief, SPO3 Pedro Embalzado strongly believes that the killing was job-related. Unidentified gunmen shot in close range court sheriff Johnny Tugado at his house in Sto. Niño Subdivision in Barangay Cagbang around 6 p.m. Thursday.
The sheriff and his wife, lawyer Althea Tugado, had just arrived at their house in Sto. Niño Subdivision and were parking their car in the garage when two gunmen barged inside and shot the victim, who was about to alight from the car.
The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the head and the body. He was brought to the Iloilo Doctor's Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Recovered from the crime scene were empty shells from .45 cal. and a slug of unknown caliber. Embalzado said that they have already been talking to the witnesses for the description of the gunmen.
"I hope they cooperate with us so that we can come up with a cartographic sketch of the suspects," he said.
Based on their investigation, Embalzado said that residents in the area had nothing against Tugado, whom they say was a 'good man.' According to the victim's wife, Tugado had no enemies, the police chief added.
Meanwhile, sheriffs at the Ramon Q. Avanceña Hall of Justice wants the National Bureau of Investigation to help solve the case.
Nicolasito Solas, clerk of court and city sheriff in the MTCC, said they want that justice be served on the killing of their colleague.
He added that they will make a position paper asking for clearance for them to carry firearms to protect themselves. Solas said there are rumors that another sheriff will be gunned down.