More speculations

It’s so tempting to play “connect the dots” when you look at the murder of 33-year-old Jessie Castañares, a jail guard at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC). Because that would be speculating, wouldn’t it? CPDRC Warden Reynaldo Valmoria, too, refused to go “there,” and I respect his decision. After all, the guy only assumed his post last May.

I’m sure there are many things he is not privy to although he was aware that Castañares, along with 11 other guards and jail employees, were suspended and investigated for their alleged involvement in the smuggling of contraband inside the facility.

And yet, Valmoria raised the fact that one of the suspended and investigated jail guards was Joel Teves.

Teves, to those who don’t know, was killed in an ambush last September. He was escorting Jerryfer Perigrino, an alleged high-value drug inmate, to court when their vehicle was peppered with bullets by unidentified men on board a motorcycle outside the facility in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City.

Also killed was fellow jail guard Bernie Bayutas, the driver.

A case was supposed to be filed against Perigrino after he was caught with packets of shabu during a greyhound operation at the CPDRC.

According to the report, their attackers were armed with an M16 rifle and a 9mm pistol.

Castañares’ killers shot him last Sunday, Nov. 25, at the corner of Limkakeng and Happy Valley Streets in Barangay Guadalupe.

Among the things recovered from the crime scene was a 9mm pistol.

I’m just saying.

Anyway, Valmoria was surprised when he found out what happened because Castañares was supposed to be guarding an inmate confined at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

“Nahibung gyud ko kay ting-duty man unta na niya nang orasa. Gaunsa man diay na siya didto (He was supposed to be on duty at the time of the attack. So what was he doing outside)?” the warden wondered.

Hmm.

And why was Castañares headed for Labangon, when he lived in Barangay Pardo? What business did he have there? Granted both places are in the south so it’s possible he was on his way home for a change of clothes or to catch a nap.

At this point, we don’t know. What I do know is that CPDRC guards and employees who have been linked to illegal activities in the facility must be shaking in their shoes. I mean, wouldn’t you?

Apparently, someone out there is taking it upon themselves to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak. And, of course, I’m being cynical.