Newly-installed OIC chief of police in Dumaguete P/Supt. Jovito Atanacio had his so-called “baptism of fire” when a shooting incident occurred Saturday at Lukewright St., just 18 days after assuming the post as chief of police on July 27.
However, the case was considered solved under the parameters of the police due to positive identification of the alleged gunman and the filing of appropriate information before the city prosecutor’s office Tuesday.
Atanacio disclosed that the victim, Lou Ann Ybanez, sustained a gunshot wound in the face but survived the attack and made positive identification of the suspect as a certain Shaun Ronald Sotto Chiong, also known as “Tamoy,” 36 years old, a resident of C. Padilla St. in Cebu City.
In Tuesday’s inquest proceedings, the suspect waived his right against detention while requesting for the conduct of a preliminary investigation within which to submit counter affidavits including that of his witnesses, after which the inquest prosecutor will resolve the case within 15 days.
Chiong claimed he was pinpointed by the victim as the alleged gunman to get back at him because of an incident where he collected from her payments of unremitted amount to a certain “Ninong” who is based in Cebu.
He further claimed that he was only asked by “Ninong” to collect from the victim any amount, to the extent of getting valuable items from her residence such as the flat screen TV, a dog and a motorcycle.
Unconfirmed reports have it the victim had a payable of P300,000 to “Ninong” who is based in Cebu.
In the course of a follow-up investigation conducted by the city intelligence division and personally supervised by Supt. Atanacio, the police were able to apprehend the suspect while at the Bingo house in Bagacay, Dumaguete City.
The suspect was brought to his rented room at a pension house in Barangay Looc, Dumaguete City, where assorted illegal drugs paraphernalia such as improvised tooters, burners, tin foils and lighters were found by the pursuing lawmen.
A separate charge for violation of Section 11 of RA 9165 was filed against the suspect.
The suspect was renting a room at P600 more or less per day, even though she did not have a job.
Atanacio said in spite of the positive identification of the alleged triggerman, the police will not stop looking for the two others who were on board the same motorcycle when the crime was committed, even as names were supplied to the police.
He said the two other John Does will also be charged with frustrated murder.
The second baptism of fire for the newly installed officer-in-charge of the city police was the arrest of a level three drug personality with 97.7 grams of shabu, identified as Ralph Walter Arbas, who was properly charged before the city prosecutor’s office last week. (PNA/JG)
