By Glazyl Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) here has formed a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) on Tuesday to focus on the killing of provincial consultant for hospital operations Mariano Antonio “Marton” Cui III.
Cui was shot by unidentified perpetrators at the entrance of Emerald Arcade in Barangay Palampas, San Carlos City as he left his office around 8 p.m. last Monday, according to Police Lieutenant Ruby Aurita, deputy police chief of San Carlos City Police Station.
Aurita said that Cui was about to board his car when the gunman, who was believed to be armed with a sniper gun, shot the victim and fled on board a white van.
Aurita said that one of Cui’s bodyguards and security guards at the building reacted when the victim suddenly fell to the floor and complained about the pain he felt from the shot.
Aurita said that one of the victim’s bodyguards was able to return fire at the fleeing perpetrators.
Cui was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival. He had also served as chief of staff of former 1st district Rep. Jules Ledesma.
Aurita said that perpetrators might have waited for the victim to come out of his office.
Police Colonel Romy Palgue, Negros Occidental police director, went to the crime scene later that night to check the investigation.
Aurita said they still have no lead yet on the identities of the perpetrators and will have to check closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage in the building.
Police also could not yet establish the motive of the incident.
Meanwhile, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson expressed his condolences to Cui’s family.
Lacson said that the victim’s family requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to also conduct a separate investigation.
“We have carried that out already and just finishing the necessary documents for the request,” he added.
Lacson is hoping that with two law enforcement agencies probing the incident, they can be able to determine the person behind the killing.
“Although my confidence is not that high, there’s no other recourse, but to trust the authorities on this undertaking,” Lacson made that statement, as he cited similar incidents in the province that have yet to be solved.
There were also reports that Cui planned to run for the election next year, but Lacson said he didn’t take it seriously as the victim would always mention that every election.
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos, in a statement, said they were shocked upon learning of the incident.
“This is totally unexpected. As your pastor, I strongly condemn this abominable assault on the primacy and sanctity of human life,” Alminaza said, adding that Cui’s death is another mark of senselessness on the use of violence against human life.
When will these killings stop? This culture of death must end, the bishop stressed.
In July 2019, four bishops in Negros issued a collegial pastoral plea to end the killings in Negros Island.
Our police force must be resolute in solving the crimes and acts of violence with due diligence, assuring our people of the need of a secured society, he said.
The Diocese also expressed their deepest and most sincere condolences to the victim’s family.
