PRO 7 EYES PERSONS OF INTEREST IN COP’S AMBUSH-SLAY
Chief Supt. Jose Espino says PRO7 will provide financial assistance to the family of PO1 Mae Sasing Investigators are looking into a conflict with a neighbor as the possible motive in the attack last Tuesday evening
The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 said it is now tracing potential persons of interest in the ambush-slay of a policewoman in Barangay Basak, Mandaue City last Tuesday night.
PRO 7 Director Jose Espino said that police investigators are looking into a conflict with a neighbor of PO1 Mae Sasing (not Sassy Mae as earlier reported) as a possible motive in the attack.
Love triangle and work-related are not among the angles being considered in the killing.
“It’s not work-related but we are considering (the possibility) that a gun-for-hire killed her,” said Espino.
He said that the PRO 7 will provide financial assistance to the victim’s family.
Sasing, 31, was killed by unknown assailants in Barangay Basak, Mandaue while she was on her way home to Consolacion last Tuesday evening.
Sasing, who was assigned at the Lapu-Lapu City Public Safety Company, suffered gunshot wounds in the body after four people, who were riding two motorcycles, shot her at 6:30 p.m.
Chief Insp. Mercy Villaro, spokesperson of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO), said that the city police force is still investigating the motive of the attack. This included a case that was filed against some members of the Sasing family.
After her work, Sasing was driving her motorcycle on her way home to Barangay Jugan, Consolacion. When she reached in Cebu North Road in Basak, Mandaue, the culprits appeared and shot Sasing several times.
“Giatangan ni siya’g duha ka motorcycles (Two motorcycles were reportedly waiting for her to pass by in the area),” she said.
Sasing was wearing her uniform and a black jacket during the killing.
Crime scene
A team from the Mandaue Police Station 3 who responded to the crime scene found Sasing’s service firearm and other personal belongings. Three empty shells of .45 pistol were also recovered at the crime scene.
Sasing was brought to the Chong Hua Hospital in Mandaue, but she died later.
The four culprits reportedly headed to the northern part of Cebu after carrying out the crime.
In a phone interview, Villaro said that investigators are looking into a child abuse case, which was filed against some of the members of Sasing’s family. She said that the case was amicably settled in court.
Villaro said that there was a footage from a security camera, which may give a lead in the investigation, but it was not clear.
Villaro said that the MCPO will try to look for another footage from other establishments to help solve the crime.
Sasing’s colleagues also told Villaro that they could not think of other instances, which may have triggered the killing.
An autopsy was performed on Sasing’s body yesterday.
Jeraline Diamada, 37, Sasing’s sister, said that her younger sibling had no enemy that is why she and other family members were shocked after learning the attack.
She said her family will wait for the result of the investigation.
Diamada learned about what happened to her sister when she called Sasing’s mobile phone, which was answered by another police officer.
Supt. Rey Tiempo, deputy city director for administration of LCPO, said that Sasing was good in performing her work and they had no idea why she was shot. /