Cop killed in Carcar

A rookie policeman was shot dead while waiting for a bus ride in barangay Poblacion Dos, Carcar City, southern Cebu last Wednesday night.

PO1 Felicisimo Unabia was on his way to report for work. He was assigned to the Cebu City Mobile Patrol Group.

Two men were arrested as suspects in the killing.

Following the fatal shooting, the chief of the Carcar City police, Supt. Ricky Delilis, was relieved from his post.

Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), said Delilis was replaced by Chief Insp. Teodolfo Manatad III, a former Carcar City police chief who was relieved prior to this year’s mid-term elections.

Gillamac said Delilis was relieved “for lapses he had in handling the major crimes that happened in his jurisdiction this year.”

“He (Delilis) will be subjected to pre-charge evaluation purposely to determine the remiss of his duties and responsibilities,” Gillamac said.

Gillamac said he has been monitoring Delilis’ performance since he became the Carcar police chief.

Gillamac said big crimes were unresolved with Delilis at the helm.

The unsolved crimes include the robbery of Metrobank, Vifco Piggery and JM Poultry Livestock Supply where more P1 million was taken, said Gillamac.

Gillamac said the Intelligence and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) will handle the investigation of Unabia’s killing.

Unabia was waiting for a bus in front of the Carcar City Hall, just a few meters from the police station, when two men arrived and shot him in the head and chest.

Recovered at the crime scene were five spent shells for a .45 caliber pistol.

A loaded .45 caliber believed to be owned by Unabia was also recovered.

Carcar police who were on-duty during the incident will be investigated for failing to immediately respond.

Gillamac said revenge is being looked into as one of the possible motives of the crime.

Two of the five alleged assailants were arrested about 14 hours after the crime.

Marvin Benuya and Juanito Lingantong, both residents of barangay Cambuntan-Bolinawan, Carcar, were identified by the victim’s brother based on footage from a security camera installed at the City Hall.

Both men denied involvement in the killing.

The two suspects were arrested outside their respective houses, said Delilis.

Delilis said the two suspects resisted arrest but police managed to subdue them.

According to the victim’s brother, Eddie, Lingantong served as lookout who identified Unabia’s to the gunmen who were on board a motorcycle.

Based on the footage, Lingantong walked behind Unabia while carrying a flashlight which he used to signal to the gunmen.

The backrider, whose identity is being withheld by police pending operations to find them, shot Unabia.

Benuya was identified as the alleged driver of the motorcycle.

“The other two cohorts who served as lookouts are still unidentified,” Delilis said.

On Gillamac’s decision to relieve him, Delilis said the move caught him by surprise.

“I was really shocked because the decision was really quick,” he said.

Delilis said he accepted the relief order and looks forward to his new assignment at the operations division of the CPPO.

“I welcome the decision of my supervisor since I have to follow orders. I have no choice. It’s part of my career advancement to handle the paperwork,” Delilis said./WITH CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON