Cops face blank wall on provincial consultant’s slay

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) continues to thoroughly investigate the killing of provincial consultant for hospital operations Mariano Antonio “Marton” Cui III.

Police Lieutenant Abegael Donasco, Nocppo’s deputy information officer, said they still have no lead on the identities of the perpetrators who shot dead 62-year-old Cui allegedly using a sniper gun as he left his office at Emerald Arcade in Barangay Palampas, San Carlos City last Monday.

However, Donasco said they are monitoring two suspicious vehicles that were seen at the area throughout the day based on a copy of a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage they have acquired in nearby areas.

Donasco said these two vehicles were a Toyota white van and a silver-gray Starex.

Cui’s perpetrators reportedly fled on board a white van. “We’re still reviewing the CCTV,” Donasco said.

Donasco said that the two vehicles had no car plates and conduction stickers, which raised suspicions, but it is not conclusive yet that they were part in the crime.

“We’re just monitoring them for a possible trace (in case),” she added.

Donasco said they are exploring all possible angles in the murder case.

“Blanko pa talaga kami sa ngayon. Hindi naman puwede na mag assume lang,” she added.

Nocppo has already activated its Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to focus on probing the case. It is led by Police Colonel Romy Palgue, Nocppo director, and assisted by Police Lieutenant Colonel Roldan Daniel, head of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the province.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was also tapped by the victim’s family to conduct a separate investigation.

Donasco said the police are also open and willing to coordinate with the NBI to hasten the investigation of the case.