Murder of local exec alarms MisOr gov
Emano has ordered creation of task group to probe killing; village chief not in narco list
Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano has ordered the creation of a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) for the speedy probe of the fatal shooting of an incumbent village chief in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental, early Friday, July 13.
Danao, Jasaan town barangay chairman Alfredo Zapanta, 53, was gunned down by unidentified riding-in-tandem suspects around 5:15 a.m. yesterday, while the victim went out of his house to feed his hogs.
Witnesses saw the perpetrators wearing black jackets, bonnets and caps and said both fled right away after the killing.
Zapanta sustained gunshot wounds on his head and other parts of his body. He was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Police recovered two cartridges of suspected .45 caliber pistol from the crime scene.
Chief Inspector Rogelio Labor Jr, town police chief, said they have yet to establish the motives of the killing but they are considering the angles on politics and personal.
He said the family and the neighborhood have been talking about a post on social media which is related to politics.
The police ruled out the angle on illegal drugs as the village chief does not engage in illegal drug activities.
“Wala siya sa listings natin na involve sa droga (He is not in our list),” Police provincial director Senior Superintendent Rolando Destura said.
The anti-narcotics agency also said Zapanta was not figured in the narco-list.
He said they are still conducting a thorough investigation to identify the perpetrators and the mastermind.
Emano said the newly elected captain was supposed to meet him on Friday afternoon together with other officials of the town to talk about some problems in the barangay.
The governor said he was saddened to hear the incident and is mulling to release a portion of the peace and order fund to reward those who can provide information that would lead to the identification of the assassins and mastermind of the killing.