Suspected rob group member shot dead

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police are looking into misunderstanding within their group as possible motive behind the killing of an alleged member of the “Aki Cuadra” robbery hold-up group in Purok Sigay, Barangay 2 here last Wednesday.

Police identified the victim as Donald Joseph Casiano Jr. of Barangay Granada here.

Police Lieutenant Jonito Pastrana, deputy police chief of Police Station 2, said Casiano came from a wake in the said village when he was tailed and shot at close range by an unidentified man after he crossed the road.

Pastrana said the victim visited the wake of an alleged member of their group who was abducted and killed a few weeks ago.

Police recovered from the scene five empty shells of .45-caliber ammunition.

Pastrana said they suspect that the group’s members figured in a misunderstanding after Arnold “Aki” Cuadra, who was the group’s leader, was killed early this month.

Pastrana said that a motorcycle was seen in the area prior to the shooting based on footages from a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera.

Cuadra and three other suspected members of the group were found dead here in Murcia town, and Bago City following an abduction in Barangay Vista Alegre here early this month.

Pastrana said Casiano was reportedly linked to the killing of his alleged colleagues after his Toyota Wigo was sighted in the said areas upon the discovery of their bodies.

“Basi onsehanay naman or indi pag intsindihanay sa ila grupo sugod lang to sang napatay si Aki ga tinudluanay sila,” Pastrana added.

Cuadra’s group was also being linked to the illegal drug trade.