Lawmaker’s driver gunned down in Negros Oriental

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (Norppo) is conducting a thorough investigation on the death of a driver of a government official in Sta. Catalina town last Monday.

Killed was Juvanie Catubay, 38, of Barangay Poblacion.

Based on initial investigation, Catubay was riding a motorcycle on his way home when he dropped by a store at Sitio Bunsod, Barangay Obat.

Another motorcycle ridden by two unidentified persons suddenly arrived and the back rider shot the victim several times.

The perpetrators then allegedly took the victim’s motorcycle when they fled, according to the police.

Police recovered from the scene 10 fired bullets of 5.56 caliber ammunition, a fired bullet, and a deformed slug of .45 caliber ammunition.

In a Facebook post, third district rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. confirmed that Catubay was his driver.

Teves is asking the authorities to probe the incident, as he was wondering how a civilian could carry a long firearm such as an Armalite, when there’s presence of the Army and police in the province.

“Unsa man ang nahitabo? Ngaa may nakadala Armalite nga wala nakit-an?,” he asked.

Meanwhile, Police Colonel Reynaldo Lizardo, acting Norppo director, who just assumed office last Monday, said in a press briefing yesterday that the provincial police office and the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 condemned the brutal killing of Catubay.

“Tayo ay magsasagawa ng patas at maayos na imbestigasyon para mabigyan ng hustisya ang namatay,” he added.

Lizardo assured that police are continuing their efforts to identify the perpetrators and determine the motive.

In fact, he said the Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Group augmented the investigators of Sta. Catalina Municipal Police Station for a thorough probe.

“We will leave no stone unturned,” he stressed.

He said they are still contemplating if a Special Investigation Task Group will be created, as it will depend on the assessment of the investigators on the case.

He also said that additional personnel were deployed in the town for maximum police presence following the incident.