By Jennifer P. Rendon
Police are still facing a blank wall as to the motive and suspects behind the broad daylight assassination of a barangay treasurer Thursday in San Jose, Antique.
Major Benjo Clarite, San Jose police chief, said he already formed a special investigation task group (SITG) that will investigate the killing of Jose Servano Jr.
The 41-year-old barangay treasure of Del Pilar village in Hamtic, Antique was killed by riding-in-tandem gunmen near the old Capitol building at Barangay 8.
“The creation of an SITG is for investigators to focus on doing follow-up and building a case against those responsible in the killing,” Clarite said.
Clarite said they have yet to get leads that would give them a clear picture as to why someone would want Servano dead.
He said they already asked technical experts at the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) to enhance footages from CCTV cameras near the crime scene and those at the suspects’ escape path.
Investigators have yet to talk to family members to gather information about Servano.
But so far, the victim did not receive death threats prior to the incident.
Police accounts indicated that the two motorcycle-riding suspects only targeted Servano and left his companion, Barangay Captain Adrian Macuja, unscathed.
The suspects’ motorcycle slowed down near them and pumped a bullet on Servano’s back.
Macuja said they were walking from the bus stop in front of the DILG building going to a Landbank automotive teller machine (ATM) booth when the incident happened.
The village chief said they were about to withdraw money for their honorarium when the shooting incident happened.
The suspects immediately fled to an undisclosed direction while the victim was taken to Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.
