Police investigate ambush; Sesbreño pushes ahead with demolition in Talisay; neighbors fear trouble
More heads are better than one.
The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) has stepped in to conduct its own probe into the ambush-slay of lawyer Raul Sesbreño’s wife and two companions in Talisay City.
At Sesbreño’s request, the agency will make a “parallel investigation” alongside the police.
“The family wants several law enforcement agencies to conduct an investigation,” said NBI Assistant Regional Director Lauro Reyes.
Sesbreño had been receiving death threats over a land dispute and ongoing demolition of settlers’ houses in barangay Lawaan, Talisay, where he’s claiming co-ownership of part of the lot his client, the Borromeo family.
Yesterday he gave Talisay police six names of suspects he said he believed were responsible for the killing of his wife and two companions in an Isuzu pickup that assailants may have thought the lawyer was riding.
Fear has gripped some neighbors and a household helper of Sesbreño.
The husband of Soledad Epanto, one of the ambush victims, went to the Talisay police station yesterday feeling threatened. He said a group of persons, including neighbors, were warning him to keep silent about his wife’s death.
Amelia Villaver, a domestic helper of the Sesbreño family, refused to leave her house since the attack out of fear she would be harmed next. Police yesterday came and escorted her out of the residence in sitio Sombrea, barangay Lawaan I, at the request of her son, allowing her to stay in the police station for the meantime.
Villaver said neighbors told her that three strangers had come looking for them. For three days, she and her daughter were house bound.
“For three days, we haven’t gone out. We haven’t been able to eat either,” she said in Cebuano.
Villaver said that just before the ambush, the Sesbreño couple had snacks at her store. The wife, Virginia, asked a neighbor Soledad Epanto to accompany her and Marlon Joshua Young. Right after the attack, Villaver closed the store and holed up at home.
Nestor Zapanta, a resident, said he is willing to cooperate with the police because his conscience was clean.
“Kami sukol mi sa legal battle pero kanang pagpatay, wala na namu nahuna-hunaaan,” he said. (We’re willing to fight the legal battle, but as for killing, we’ve never given that any thought.)
Ranulfo Daligdig, a known leader in the area, said he, too, is willing to be investigated to show that he is innocent. He said they felt bad that an innocent neighbor, Soledad, was among the casualties.
Epanto’s daughter Yvoni said she had warned her mother not to go with Sesbreño’s wife for fear there would be trouble. She said she wants justice for her mother’s death. The vigil wake for Soledad is being held in their residence in barangay Lawaan III.
Supt. Eddie Recamara, Talisay police chief, said the ongoing demolition and land dispute is the closest theory they have for the car ambush.
Recamara said the police believe the gunman, who rode on the back of a motorbike, is not from Talisay but the driver is. A cartographic sketch was made based on descriptions of at least five witnesses.
The other day Sesbreño and his youngest son Peter said they knew who the masterminds were and would file a case once their supporting evidence is ready.
The NBI will coordinate with the homicide division of the Talisay police, which is leading the investigation.
“We can help each other. We will share with the police whatever the NBI-7 gets,” said Assistant Regional Director Reyes.
Sesbreño met with NBI-7 Regional Director Edward Villarta at the NBI office.
The lawyer said he was sure he was the real target of the attack, after being warned several times by angry settlers that a P100,000 bounty was on his head.
His wife Virginia, their neighbor Soledad, with a close family friend Marlon Joshua Young at the wheel of the Isuzu pickup were waylaid by assailants when the vehicle stopped for a red light at the junction of Rabayan Street and the South Coastal Road in barangay Cansojong, Talisay.
Two motorcycle-riding men ambushed them with the backrider firing several times into the pickup. Shells of a .45-caliber pistol were found at the crime scene. A .9mm pistol, believed owned by Young, was found in the pickup. He was unable to fire back./with Gabriel Bonjoc and Chito Aragon
