Sketches of Calbayog City mayor’s killers released

SUSPECTS IDENTIFIED. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group releases composite sketches of the suspects in the killing of Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy. Uy was shot dead April 30 during festivities at the town social hall. CIDG

MANILA, Philippines – Composite sketches of suspects tagged in the killing of Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy were released by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Wednesday.

The sketches, according to CIDG Director Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr., were based on the accounts of a number of witnesses.

Uy, who was also the provincial chairman of the Liberal Party, was shot dead on April 30 while attending a show at the town’s social hall.

Pagdilao said that Flora Acaba, personal staff of Hinabangan Mayor Alex Abarratigue, was approached early morning of April 30 by a man who insisted for the list of expected guests for that night’s program. Acaba declined to give the list and the man hurriedly left.

Acaba said he saw the same man standing in front of the social hall on the night of Uy’s murder. Witnesses described the suspect to CIDG investigators.

Another suspect was described as wearing a jacket.

An employee of the municipal social hall said that she noticed three unidentified persons acting suspiciously while passing by the social hall. She identified one of the suspects from the composite sketches released by CIDG.

A 60-year-old woman told the CIDG investigators that she saw three men wearing black jackets running towards the river after she heard a gunshot. She was also able to recognize the three from the sketches.

Pagdilao added that one of the suspects spoke Waray, stood between 5’ and 5’3” and whose age ranged from 30 to 35 years old.

Mayor Abbaratigue offered a P100,000 reward to anyone who could give information that would lead to the identification and arrest of the suspects.

Erika Villanueva, Fatima Reyes