DPWH engineer killed in Cebu; suspect nabbed

CEBU CITY, Philippines – An official of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Cebu died after he was waylaid by armed men near his home at past 7 p.m. Thursday, with one of the suspects being arrested Friday, according to police and radio reports.

Radio dzMM quoted police as saying that an unidentified suspect in the shooting of Ciriaco Salazar, 49, a DPWH project engineer, has been arrested and placed under police custody.

Salazar was on his way home in Villa Del Rio Uno Subdivision in Barangay (village) Bacayan when he was ambushed.

He was driving his maroon Isuzu Crosswind with his wife on the front passenger seat when two men on a motorcycle suddenly appeared on the driver’s side and pumped bullets into the car.

The ambush took place on a just a few meters away from the subdivision's gate.

Salazar’s wife was in shock, according to the police.

Salazar was declared dead on arrival at the North General Hospital. He was hit by at least three bullets, one on the left arm that exited in the chest, another near the left armpit and a third one in the head, Dacua said.

Salazar was assigned to the DPWH fourth engineering district in Dalaguete, 81.5 kilometers south of Cebu City.

Dacua said Salazar came from Dalaguete and had fetched his wife from her workplace at a private firm in the city’s port area before they headed home.

Police have yet to determine the motive of the killing.

Salazar was the third ambush victim this week in Metro Cebu.

Last Monday night, former Mayor Joselito Reynes of Compostela town in northern Cebu was shot and killed by still unknown assailants.

On Wednesday night, exporter Debbie Yu and her driver were also ambushed but they both survived the attack.

Source: Inquirer