Sniper may have shot dead Cagayan town mayor – PNP

Cagayan map. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — A sniper may have been behind the fatal shooting of reelectionist Rizal, Cagayan Mayor Joel Ruma, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday.

Ruma was shot dead during a campaign rally at the Illuru Sur barangay hall at around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23.

“Lumalabas sa kanilang (police) initial investigation na isang tama lang mula sa isang sniper rifle ang ginamit magmula sa isang vantage point,” PNP public information chief Col. Randulf Tuaño said in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Thursday.

(Their initial investigation shows that a sniper rifle was used from a vantage point.)

“May nakuha din silang isang basyo ng caliber 5.56. Armalite. May nakuha sila isang shell doon sa possible location kung saan pumwesto yung sniper,” he added.

(They recovered a shell of a caliber 5.56. Armalite. They  recovered a shell there at the possible location where the sniper was positioned.)

Tuaño further detailed that the bullet entered through Ruma’s right shoulder and exited through his back.

According to the PNP public information chief, the Police Regional Office 2 (PRO 2) has activated a special investigation task group (SITG) to probe the killing.

A suspect has yet to be identified, but police said they were looking into whether the killing was politically motivated.

As to the police’s coordination with the Commission on Elections about the matter, Tuaño said, “Ito ay irerekomenda na election-related incident pending completion ng validation (This will be recommended as an election-related incident pending completion of validation.)”

READ: Cagayan town mayor shot dead during campaign sortie

Three wounded

According to the PNP, during the incident, three individuals were left wounded: a farmer who was hit on his left elbow, a 26-year-old man grazed by a stray bullet and a 23-year-old woman hit on her left breast.

While only one sniper shot was heard from outside the barangay hall, Tuaño said, “[M]ay narinig din silang (police) putukan sa loob mismo ng barangay hall (They also heard shots fired inside the barangay hall itself.)”

The PNP public information chief said authorities are looking into whether the shots came from Ruma’s security detail.

“Tinitignan nila (investigators) kung ito (security) ba ay nag-return fire or posible din na may kasama din sa loob (Investigators are looking into whether security returned fire or if there was possibly an accomplice on the inside,)” Tuaño said.

“Nasa custody sila ngayon ng SITG para kuhanan ng mga statement at ipa-paraffin din. Ifo-forensic din yung kanilang issued firearms para ma-determine natin kung sino possible na nakasugat sa mga ibang tao na wounded sa loob ng barangay,” he added.

(They are presently in the custody of the SITG to make statements and to undergo a paraffin test. Their issued firearms will also undergo forensic testing to determine who possibly wounded the other people at the scene.)

A paraffin test is a method to check for gunshot residue on a person.