By Jennifer P. Rendon
An alleged civilian agent of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is the latest fatality in the spate of killings perpetrated by motorcycle-riding assassins or riding-in-tandem in Iloilo City.
Angel Lademora, 50, of Barangay Camiri, San Enrique, Iloilo, was walking several meters from his daughter’s boarding house at Barangay Democracia, Jaro district, when he was gunned down.
Footage from a CCTV camera showed a man approach Lademora around 7:50 p.m. of March 5, 2020. The man then took him by the hand before four gunfire volleys were heard.
The footage also showed that the gunman stood by an electric utility post, apparently waiting for Lademora to pass by.
Police Captain Eduardo Siacon Jr., Jaro police chief, said Lademora might have resisted as he suffered a single gunshot injury on his head.
The gunman then crossed the street and boarded a motorcycle driven by another person. They sped off towards Barangay Sta. Isabel in Jaro and spotted to have passed by Jaro Plaza.
As in previous killings involving motorcycle-riding suspects (MRS), the assailants were able to escape.
The victim was taken to a hospital but was declared dead almost two hours later.
Meanwhile, Siacon said they could not ascertain the motive for Lademora’s killing. Investigators have yet to talk to Lademora’s family, as of this writing.
But residents in the area claimed that the victim was connected with the NBI. He even posted on his Facebook account a photo of him in an NBI shirt.
Siacon said they also received reports that Lademora used to be a civilian agent of PNP intelligence units like the Regional Intelligence Unit.
“As far as Jaro Police Station is concerned, we have no records of any misdemeanor or illegal activities involving the suspect,” Siacon said.
But he said they have yet to check Lademora’s profile with the San Enrique Police Station.
When he assumed as Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) chief, Police Colonel Eric Dampal was asked how he would go about the unabated MRS killings that have plagued Iloilo City late of 2018.
Almost all of these incidents have targeted victims with illegal drugs link.
Dampal said he would heighten police visibility in a bid to discourage criminals or arrest perpetrators if the crime has been committed.
With Lademora’s death as the first MRS killing under his watch, Dampal’s resolve to run after the suspects would be tested.
‘SALVAGE’ VICTIM IN AREVALO
Hours after Lademora’s killing, an alleged victim of summary execution or “salvaging” was found in an abandoned lot at Project 6, Barangay Sooc, Arevalo, Iloilo City.
A concerned citizen called up Arevalo Police Station around 6 a.m. of March 6 to report that a body was sprawled along Circumferential Road in Sooc village.
Police Major Regina Roquim, Arevalo police chief, said the victim remains unidentified as of Friday afternoon.
The man, believed to be 20 to 30 years old, suffered injuries on the right side of his face. His face was covered with a jacket.
He wore a red pair of shorts and a blue t-shirt.
Roquim said the victim was sporting a barber’s cut hairstyle, medium built, and stood at around 5 feet and 5 inches.
Police recovered two empty ammunition shells at the scene.
Roquim said they are still looking for witnesses to the incident.
Investigators could not confirm if the body was discarded in the area or was killed at the scene.
The nearest residential area from the crime scene is the Bahay Kalinga, which is around 100 meters away.
There were earlier reports that the man might be a resident of Calaparan, Arevalo.
Roquim said they went around the village but residents could not identify the victim.
Barangay officials were also asked to check the cadaver but they claimed that the man is not a resident of Calaparan.
