Citom enforcer fatally shot while directing traffic in busy Banilad road
A traffic enforcer was shot dead yesterday morning while directing rush-hour traffic on Governor Cuenco Avenue in barangay Banilad, Cebu City.
Armando Daligdig of the Cebu City Integrated Traffic Operations Management (Citom), suffered gunshot wounds in the head, shoulder and chest.
The gunman fled on a motorcycle after the shooting, which occurred at 7:45 a.m. near the foot of the Banilad flyover.
Police later arrested Geoffrey Borinaga, a dismissed policeman, whom witnesses identified as the one who shot the victim.
According to Citom’s Joy Tumulak, the 47-year-old victim reported for work at 7 a.m. and went to his designated post near the flyover where traffic is usually heavy during rush hour.
While Daligdig was directing traffic, a man on a motorcycle came by and motioned for the traffic enforcer to approach him. As Daligdig walked towards him, the man on the motorcycle fired at the traffic enforcer several times, Tumulak said.
The gunman, who was clad in denim jacket and camouflage shorts, then sped off toward Mandaue City, Tumulak said.
Daligdig was rushed to the Gullas Medical Center, also in barangay Banilad, but was pronounced dead on arrival.
According to Citom staffers, Daligdig, who has been with the unit for eight years, was one of the enforcers with the most number of traffic violation apprehensions.
Mayor Michael Rama rushed to the hospital to see the remains of the traffic constable and offer comfort to the victim’s wife and two daughters.
The mayor ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Services to extend all forms of assistance to the the Daligdig family.
Citom’s Tumulak said the mayor is planning to hire the victim’s wife, Mary Rose, at City Hall. She presently works in the school canteen of the Budlaan Elementary School.
Motive
Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el Jr., acting chief of police of Cebu City and Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, chief of the intelligence branch of the Cebu City Police Office, said they believe the motive of the killing was work-related.
They said investigators are verifying reports that Borinaga and the victim had a heated argument when the traffic enforcer apprehended the suspect for a traffic violation last Wednesday.
Citom’s Tumulak however, said they have not received such information.
“It could be the one they argued about have something to do with the (traffic violation),” Natu-el said.
He added that there is also a possibility that somebody else, who had a difference with the victim, hired the ex-policeman to kill him.
Santander said they were able to trace Borinaga based on description given by witnesses.
A team from the CCPO Homicide Section went to Borinaga’s residence in barangay Canduman in Mandaue City and immediately placed him under arrest.
According to SP01 Jay Yballe, they initially saw the motorcycle which matched the description of witnesses parked outside his residence.
Borinaga was immediately cuffed after one of the arresting officers, homicide investigator Dario Manatad, identified him. Borinaga and Manatad were reportedly classmates in the police training institute.
Police recovered a .45 caliber pistol with seven rounds of ammunition, a camouflage shirt, short pants, a pair of white shoes and a cap which the suspect allegedly wore when he shot the victim and a motorcycle.
Witnesses positively identified the suspect after he was presented to them at the police headquarters. They said the gunman wore a brown cap. They also said that the assailant had a moustache.
Forensic investigators recovered three emply caliber .45 shells from the crime scene.
Borinaga denied any involvement in the killing.
“Mura og didto ko sa Mandaue ana,” he said. “Pulis ko, unya naingon ani nuon ko.” (I was in Mandaue at the time. I’m a police officer and now I’m being linked to the crime.)
Borinaga will be subjected to paraffin test to determine if he had powder burns, an indication that he had fired a gun while the suspected murder weapon and the slugs recovered from the crime scene will be subjected to a ballistics test.
Borinaga entered the police service in 1996 and was assigned to the Cebu City Police Office. His last assignment before he wast declared in AWOL (absent without official leave) and removed from the service was with the Waterfront Police Station.
Natu-el said Borinaga went on AWOL after he was found positive of illegal drug use in 2008.
Buddy system
Citom head Rafael Yap said beginning today traffic enforcers will be paired with a police officer especially in areas classified as “hot spots”.
Yap said despite yesterday’s killing, proposal to arm Citom’s traffic officers remain a remote possibility.
“We are not really saying no but we have to try out the buddy system first. If it does not work, siguro our last resort is to arm them. Right now, we are still very far from that point but that is still an alternative,” he said./CORRESPONDENTS Jhunnex Napallacan, Chito Aragon and Edison Delos Angeles
