Murder raps up against four persons in ‘hired killer’s’ slay
Four persons will be charged for murder for allegedly killing a suspected gun-for-hire last Friday.
Concepcion Police Station chief Senior Insp. Alejandro Apostol said that they would file charges against two identified suspects and two John Does on Wednesday.
“We are still gathering testimony of our witnesses,” Apostol claimed.
One of the witnesses was the companion of victim Renato Rizalde, 43, of Brgy. Puente Bunglas, Ajuy, Iloilo.
From the town proper of Concepcion, reports said that Rizalde was on his way home on board a motorcycle driven by the witness when the four suspects on board motorcycles tailed them.
Upon reaching Brgy. Bacjawan, Concepcion, they were allegedly peppered with bullets.
“Duha ka motorsiklo ang galagas sa amon. Ang isa nagatiro. Ang isa nagaalalay. Pagtumba sang motor, nagbalik pa sila liwat,” the witness claimed.
As the witness was slumped on the ground, the witness claimed that he scampered for safety.
The suspects did not run after him.
The victim failed to fight back, as evidenced by his caliber .38 revolver, which was still holstered.
More than 10 empty shells of caliber .45 pistol were also recovered at the crime scene.
Initial investigation revealed that the incident could have been triggered by a shooting episode that wounded the victim’s nephew.
Apostol said that Rizalde was a main participant during the negotiation process.
Sometimes, the victim would provoke a fight in their area.
Apostol confirmed earlier reports claiming that the suspects could be members of the Canicula and Jornigos families.
“One of the angles and motives we are looking into involved the victim’s conflict with the Caniculas and the Jornigos’,” he said.
Apostol further claimed that their investigation did not lead them to believe that Rizalde was killed due to his alleged affiliation to gun-for-hire activities.
Further, police investigators also claimed that the recent killing has no connection to the previous shooting incidents in Concepcion town.
