THE Lapu-Lapu City government is offering a P50,000 cash reward for the capture of a man suspected of strafing a house in barangay Buaya and killing a 42-year-old mother.
Lapu Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza yesterday said the cash reward for the arrest of Demetrio Malingin is part of the city’s campaign against illegal drugs.
The mayor said she believed that the June 28 atttack was drug-related.
Police believe the target of the strafing was the husband of the slain woman Prima Aying.
A day after the killing, police arrested Rosie Dilao, 22, and Cyril Zamora, 28, who were hanging outside the house acting suspiciously.
Police said the two men could have been assasins sent to finish off the woman’s husband Jerome Sr.
Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, officer-in-charge of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO), said the cash reward was helpful in arresting Malingin but “even without the reward money we are still bound to exert efforts to arrest the suspect.”
The cash reward was announced during the inauguration of the new LLCPO building in barangay Pusok.
The city government spent P5 million for the construction of the building which is 70 percent complete.
The police office is located across the City Hall. Construction started in 2009.
Lawas said the old police station will be occupied by the Public Safety Office, intelligence group, and City Environment and Natural Resources Office.
During the turnover ceremony, Chief Supt. Marcel Garbo, chief of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas, said he is hoping that Radaza would appoint Lawas as permanent chief of the Lapu-Lapu police.
Lawas has been OIC for the last five months.
It’s up to the mayor to request Camp Crame for the permanent appointment of Lawas.
“I believe the mayor has had enough time to assess the kind of leadership of Col. Lawas. I believe she can now decide whether to make Lawas the permanent city director,” Garbo added.
The mayor didn’t give her decision about an appointment but Radaza said she was satisfied so far with Lawas’ performance./CORRESPONDENTS NORMAN V. MENDOZA AND FE MARIE D. DUMABOC