Bus blocks footages of Barangay Kagawad shooting

The Talisay City Police Station is facing a blank wall again in its investigation into the death of Barangay Councilman Art Stephen Bas of Lagtang, Talisay City, after the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footages from a gasoline station near the crime scene was considered “unsubstantial” since it was blocked by a bus.

Police Superintendent Marlu Conag, Talisay City Police chief, however, said that they are now coordinating with the management of the bus company for a possible dash camera inside the bus that captured the incident.

It can be recalled that the police had been gathering CCTV footages from at least four establishments, including the gasoline station, but the other footages showed blurred captures of the incident.

Conag, in a previous interview, said that they were relying on the CCTV footage of the gasoline station since it was closer to the crime scene.

"Mayroong footage na pagkaalis ng bus pero wala na roon ang actual shooting. So, ang panawagan namin ngayon sa (management) if ever na may dash cam," said Conag in a phone interview.

Bas, 25, a graduating Mechanical Engineering student, was on his way to school in Cebu City driving a white Ford Everest when three unidentified men on board two motorcycles 'sandwiched' and peppered his vehicle with bullets, which led to his instantaneous death in Barangay Cansojong, Talisay City last Friday.

Stephen is the grandson of Talisay City Councilor Arturo Bas. The younger Bas is also the son of former Lagtang barangay captain Marc Ferdinand (Dindin), who was under the Philippine Drug Enforcement (PDEA)’s list of 207 alleged narcopoliticians in the country.

Ferdinand was arrested by the operatives of the Cebu Provincial Police Office in a raid in 2017 in which a firearm, a hand grenade and ammunition were recovered from him. He later bailed out of jail.

Conag also encouraged other possible witnesses to come forward that may help their investigation.

"May mga lumutang din kasi sa Facebook na may mga tao daw na aktwal na nakapag-video sa pangyayari. As of now we are already inviting them pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pang lumapit dito," Conag added.

Conag also said that they are consistently coordinating with the family of Bas.

The family already told the police that there is a big possibility that the motive of the ambush of Bas is political.

However, Conag said that they are not discounting illegal drugs as possible motive, aside from political.