Police still clueless in Agusan judge slay try

By Ben Serrano,
Correspondent

BUTUAN City — Authorities are still facing a blank wall as to the identity of the four armed gunmen and the possible mastermind behind the ambush slay attempt against Agusan del Sur RTC Judge Hector del Bando Salise, a report from the Police Regional Office 13 reads.

Salise who underwent surgery is reportedly still in critical condition at a local private hospital here. His police driver escort PO3 Edmund Narvasa, however, has been declared by attending physicians as out of danger.

Last Friday, at about 7 am, four gunmen on board a silver Mitsubishi Montero Sport opened fire on Salise’s vehicle with assault rifles and pistols.

Salise, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court 7 in Bayugan City, was on board a government-owned red Toyota Innova bearing plate number SKF 719 driven by his bodyguard when they were fired upon, hitting Salise in the head and back.

Salise and Narvasa on board the Toyota Innova were cruising the diversion road now called Balanghay Road, Barangay Lemon, Butuan City on way to work in Bayugan City when they were ambushed.

An official police report said Narvasa was able to stop and immediately maneuvered back to Butuan City proper to escape from the gunmen and proceeded to Butuan City Police Community Police Assistance Center (Compac), in Barangay Villa Kananga Butuan City and was able to get  help.

Narvasa drove the vehicle to more than 8 kilometers while running flat after the left rear tire of the Toyota Innova was shot.

Recovered from the crime scene were 15 cartridge cases of M16 rifles and two cartridge cases from a .45. caliber pistol.

A task force was created on Monday to secure the recuperating Salise and his family and to conduct an investigation on the attack.