Sibonga barangay councilman shot dead

DAYS after he filed his re-election bid, a barangay councilor was shot dead by a motorcycle-riding assailant while he rested in front of his house in barangay Manatad, Sibonga town past 8 p.m last Monday.

The 49-year-old Gomersindo Inguillo Sabanal sustained gunshot wounds in his temple, chest and right thigh and died before arriving at the Carcar District Hospital.

“He was a number one councilor and is very good to the people,” Sabanal’s 48-year-old wife Teresa said when asked about the motive behind his murder.

Sabanal sat on a bench under a Talisay tree with the family helper and a neighbor when the incident happened.

Cheryl Sabanal, wife of Sabanal’s son, said their helper noticed a motorcycle pass by the area four times.

She said it was unusual because drivers of motorcycles in their area does not wear full-face helmets.

It was past 8 pm when the assailants shot Sabanal. The suspects fled towards Dumanjug town.

“The councilor was really the target because his two companions were spared,” PO2 Ederlino Bacusmo said in Cebuano.

Unconscious

His neighbors only realized Sabanal was killed when they heard Teresa shout for help.

A midwife came and found Sabanal lying unconscious on the bench.

His cellphone and shattered reading glasses were found near his body.

Like her mother-in-law, Cheryl said she didn’t believe that Sabanal’s murder was politically motivated.

Manatad is a hinterland barangay of Sibonga town, southern Cebu which has an access road towards Dumanjug.

Sabanal had a few drinks in barangay Gahad with some of his friends and neighbors before he went home.

One of his neighbors, Donato Peresores, said he remembered Sabanal reminding them to vote wisely.

Grudge

Bacusmo said they recovered 4 empty shells and one slug of a carbine rifle at the crime scene.

He said they invited a woman with ties to Sabanal to question her about the motive behind the murder.

Bacusmo said the woman claimed that the councilor served as witness in a case that happened in Argao town.

The Cebu provincial police classified barangay Manatad as an election watchlist area (EWA).

Chief Supt. Noel Gillamac said they heard reports that Sabanal supposedly protected a certain Ren-ren Padigos, a suspect in a shooting incident that happened in a mountain barangay in Argao town last July.

Padigos is now in Catbalugan, Leyte after the shooting incident.

The shooting victim known only as a certain Manzanades may hold a grudge against Sabanal as a result.

“We already identified some local boys as probable suspects of the killing,” said Insp. Bonifacio Tecson, Sibonga police precinct chief.

Justice

He said a cell phone taken from Sabanal’s helper showed a text message warning that “naay mamatay ninyo diha (someone among them will die).”

Tecson also said they saw a series of text messages between Sabanal and a woman that showed him asking to see her again.

Gillamac said he was angry with Tecson for not informing him about the murder sooner.

He said local media told him about the incident.

“Ipakita jud na sa chief of police (The chief of police should show that he is capable to protect the people in his area and he should give justice to the victim’s death).” Gillamac said. /Marian Z. Codilla and Jhunnex, Napallacan with Correspondent Christine Emily L. Pantaleon