Envi exec survives gun attack

By Nora Soriño
Iligan City Bureau Chief
and Sita Asequia
Correspondent

Iligan City — A city official was shot Thursday but survived to tell his harrowing experience.

Lawyer Ranulfo Cenas, head of the City Environment Management Office, yesterday said the incident happened Thursday morning when he was on his way to his office at Seminary Drive, Palao, this city.

When he was near the gate, he said, he noticed that somebody was near him walking some meters behind him. Briefly, he added, he turned his head and saw somebody wearing a black mask. So he hurriedly entered the gate and ran for dear life. He then heard one shot which he said was really meant for him as there was no other person in the vicinity that could be the target.

Later, he said, the police arrived. City Mayor Celso Regencia arrived too and asked questions that were similar to the ones asked by the police.

Cenas then told reporters that there were no threats on his life earlier before said incident although there was a complaint against him on 888.

But he added, the complaint was attended to and there were no further action on the complainant on the matter, evidently hinting that the attempt on his life could be work-related.

He also commented that the perpetrators were “very brave” as they did not mind that the city mayor’s office was near his office. To note, Regencia’s office is at Pala-o near Cenas’ office instead of at Buhanginan Hills where the previous mayors of the city held office, together with the other offices of the city government.

Police Major Jovane Cabusas, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police here told reporters subsequently that they found one empty shell of a caliber .45 along with a magazine with nine live bullets on the scene.

Witnesses also told the police that there were two men who immediately rode a motorcycle, though there were not able to describe the make of the vehicle or the plate number.

At present, Cabusas said, they are on the theory that the motive on the incident could be “robbery” as witnesses said the lawyer was carrying with him a black sling bag implying that this could have been the target even as they are not closing other angles as further investigations are still made on the matter.

The pieces of evidence are with the police at the Tipanoy headquarters, Cabusas said.