No evidence yet vs. persons of interest

The special investigation task group (SITG) has identified persons of interest who may have been behind the drive-by shooting of former Cebu City prosecutor Mary Ann Castro.

During the case conference led by Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Royina Garma, the investigators divulged that they are looking into some personalities who may have had involvement in Castro’s murder on Escario St. last Jan. 17.

CCPO-Investigation and Detective Management Branch Chief Frankie Jingle Lugo said one of the witnesses saw the gunman’s face and had executed a sworn statement about the incident.

The police crime laboratory was asked to draw the facial composite based on the witness’s description.

After the composite is produced, police will compare it with the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage they obtained from one of the establishments near the crime scene.

The investigators believe that the CCTV camera captured one of the persons of interest.

Lugo did not divulge the identities of the persons of interest because they do not have concrete evidence yet, but he said they were involved in past shooting incidents.

He is optimistic there will be a breakthrough in their investigation before the week ends.

The CCPO will tap the Anti-Cybercrime Group 7 to enhance the CCTV footage so the investigators will be able to see the license plate of the motorcycle used by the two assailants.

Lugo said the deleted video footage from the dashcam of Castro’s car is not a big issue as an information technology expert can retrieve it.