Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Guillermo Eleazar on Wednesday ordered an investigation into the fatal shooting of a lawyer and her husband in Davao City.
Eleazar said he ordered Police Regional Office 11 regional director Brig. General Filmore Escobal to investigate the shooting of lawyer Hilda Mahinay-Sapie and her husband Muhaimen Mohammad Sapie. The couple were shot in front of their residence last July 14.
The couple had a radio program where they gave free legal advice. Authorities said the couple had just finished their radio program when the shooting happened.
“Sa unang tingin pa lang, makikita na planado ang insidenteng ito kaya ang tinututukan natin ngayon ay ang mga posibleng motibo at pagkakakilanlan ng mga taong may kinalaman sa pagpaplano sa krimeng ito,” he said in a statement.
(You can tell that the incident was planned. We are looking into the possible motive and the identities of those who planned the crime.)
Eleazar said authorities are looking into all possible angles, including the cases of land disputes that were handled by the victims.
Authorities have already obtained footage from closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVS) which could help in the investigation, said Eleazar.
“In the meantime, let us wait for the result of the investigation. Tiwala ako na mareresolba natin ito (I am confident that we will solve this)” he said.
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