Mayor’s son tagged in Banate shooting
WHILE still nursing a post-surgical discomfort brought by a stab injury, a witness identified the son of Mayor Carlos Cabangal of Banate, Iloilo as the gunman who shot him and his friend on Christmas Day at Badilla St., Banate town.
In his recorded testimony before members of the Banate PNP, Rally Beljira stated that it was Peter Paul Cabangal who fired at him and Carmelino Bachoco.
Beljira narrated that at around 10:30 in the evening, he was walking behind Bachoco when a motorcycle sped off past them. The motorcycle’s backrider allegedly shot Bachoco.
“Hambal ni Beljira, nagpundo ang motorsiklo sa atubangan nila kag nagpanaog ang backrider kag gintiro pa gid si Bachoco,” said Banate Police Station chief Senior Insp. Herbert Ballego.
It was at that juncture that Beljira recognized the alleged triggerman as Peter Paul. He also identified the motorcycle driver as Carlo, the eldest of the Cabangal siblings.
Beljira added that Peter Paul then turned to him and uttered: “Ikaw pa!”
Peter Paul allegedly shot him.
Despite the wound, the victim managed to run from the suspects.
Beljira did not recount if he saw Mayor Cabangal and his other son, Carl Jerson.
Ballego surmised that the two were walking near the crime scene when the alleged shooting happened.
Meanwhile, Ballego said that it could be possible that Bachoco managed to also fire his gun.
“We would know that once we get the paraffin result done on Bachoco,” he added revealing that the Cabangals refused to submit themselves for paraffin examination.
For now, Ballego said that they could not file charges against the alleged suspects pending the execution of the sworn statement of Beljira.
This early, however, reports have it that Peter Paul is already “at large.”
“We did the interview for investigation. We initially wanted to get the identities of the suspects based on the testimony of the other party,” Ballego said.
To note, Bachoco of Brgy. Talokgangan, Banate succumbed to at least eight gunshot wounds on the different parts of his body after he was at around 10:35 p.m. of December 25.
The incident left Mayor Carlos Cabangal, his son Carl Jerson, and Bachoco’s companion, Rally Beljira, wounded.
According to the town mayor, he was with his Carl Jerson and Peter Paul when they saw Bachoco and Beljira.
According to Cabangal, they went to the direction of Bachoco to clarify some things.
Reports had it that the town mayor claimed that he wanted to ask the victim why the latter used to throw intent stare at his son, Carl Jerson.
“According to Mayor Cabangal, three meters before they reached Bachoco, the latter pulled a gun and indiscriminately fired it,” said Banate Police Station commander Senior Insp. Herbert Ballego.
