Suspect still unidentified but police present sketch

Police released this computer-generated sketch of the still unidentified killer of Dr. Shajid Sinolinding. —EDWIN FERNANDEZ

COTABATO CITY—Police investigation of the murder of an ophthalmologist here led to a sketch of how the main suspect probably looked like, but not his identity.

Senior Supt. Victor Valencia, city police chief, on Saturday presented the sketch of the killer of Dr. Shajid “Jaja” Sinolinding, who was shot dead inside his clinic here on Tuesday.

Valencia said based on witnesses’ description, the killer was about 5’8” tall, medium built and between 30 to 35 years old. He was seen wearing a brown hooded shirt and maong pants.

The killer pretended to be a patient to gain access to Sinolinding’s clinic.

The victim’s fellow doctors, members of the Cotabato Medical Society (CMC), condemned his murder.

In a statement, CMC said Sinolinding had served the people of the city well, even providing services for free.

“We raise our angry voices,” said the CMC statement. “Let justice be served!”

Prof. Harris Sinolinding, his elder brother, said Shajid had an armed escort because he and his family were under threat.

Harris, who survived an ambush in August last year in Kabacan, North Cotabato, said Shajid had been mistaken for the financier of protest actions against administrators of North Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology, a state-run school.

Harris had been denouncing alleged corruption in the state-run college that led to students’ protests. —EDWIN O. FERNANDEZ