By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) here has coordinated with the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to check the two vehicles being monitored by Nocppo in relation to the killing of Negros Occidental provincial consultant for hospital operations Mariano Antonio “Marton” Cui III.
Earlier, Nocppo said that they are monitoring a Toyota white van and a silver gray Starex after noticing the cars in a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage in the area where Cui was gunned down.
Unidentified perpetrators on board a van shot Cui outside the Emerald Arcade in Barangay Palampas, San Carlos City on April 12, 2021.
Police Lieutenant Abegael Donasco, Nocppo’s deputy information officer, said they tapped Norppo to check if there are CCTV camera footage that possibly captured these vehicles.
Donasco there has been no feedback yet.
Donasco also said that they are trying to check with the PCG if these vehicles were also sighted in the sea or other coastal areas.
“We’re exploring all angles, sea, land, lahat,” she added.
Although Donasco said that there has been no confirmation yet on the involvement of these two vehicles in the crime, she said they are continuously monitoring the two cars.
In fact, Donasco said that Police Colonel Romy Palgue, Nocppo director, has ordered the Highway Patrol Group to apprehend vehicles with no car plates and conduction stickers to prevent similar incidents.
When asked about the motive of the killing, Donasco said they still have yet to determine it, as investigation is still ongoing. “Hindi naman puwede na basta na lang makapag-divulge, kasi under investigation pa din,” she said noting that the case is also developing.
Last week, a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) was formed to focus on probing the killing of Cui who had also served as chief of staff of former 1st district Rep. Jules Ledesma.
Cui was attacked by perpetrators believed to be armed with a sniper gun when he was about to ride his car.
