Police now one step closer to identifying Rotoras 'killers

Authorities have identified the getaway vehicle used by the gunmen who killed University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) president Ricardo Rotoras, police said Monday, December 11.

Chief Inspector Mardy Hortillosa II, spokesperson of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said the gunmen were fetched by a Nissan Navarra Calibre pick-up truck after the murder of Rotoras just outside the latter’s house at Golden Glow North Subdivision, Upper Carmen, last December 2.

Police said the vehicle was captured from one of the Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) along the exit route of the killers.

“Ang sakyanan nga gigamit kay Nissan Navarra kay na-identify siya marka nga calibre and walay lain sakyanan gawas aning Nissan pickup (The vehicle used by the suspects is Nissan Navarra calibre pick-up truck), ”Hortillosa said. But, the police have been trying to enhance the footage to spot the color of the vehicle, the plate number, or the vehicle’s conduction sticker.

Authorities said once the vehicle’s

owner and the driver is identified, it could lead the investigators into catching the culprit in what the police describe as a well-planned assassination.

“Ato na lang ipanawagan sa driver nga mas maayo nga mo-surrender siya ug maghatag sa information kung kinsa tong iyang gikuha nga mga tawo sa area ug ang nasugo sa ilaha before siya ma-filan og kaso (We call on the driver to surrender and disclose the identities of the gunmen and who gave the order before the case will be filed),”Hortillosa said.

Hortillosa said the driver may also get the P2 million cash reward offered by the city government and the Masonic community if he could be the key to solve the crime and have the mastermind answer criminal liabilities.

Meanwhile, authorities are still on the process of conducting forensic examination of all evidences gathered at the crime scene.

Food packs were reportedly found just right at the ladder used by gunmen to position themselves in the hit against Rotoras.

Authorities believed that the gunmen may not be from the city and not familiar with the area because they were being picked up after completing the mission which is unusual from other murder incidents in the city where killers ride a motorcycle when shooting their targets.