CEBU CITY – A Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) has been formed to speed up the investigation on the killing of a Bureau of Internal Revenue lawyer in Mandaue City on Thursday morning, Dec. 11.
The SITG is still establishing possible motives in the killing of Duke Ramil Perral Lincuna, said Police Lt. Col. Mercy Villaro, information officer of the Mandaue City Police Office.
Licuna was driving an Isuzu Crosswind when he was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding assailants around 6 a.m. on Sacris Road in Barangay Bakilid.
The victim was brought to the Mandaue City District Hospital, where he was declared dead with bullet wounds in the face, head, and body.
At least eight empty shells were recovered in the crime scene.
Police Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, chief of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas, has directed the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and other units to assist in the investigation.
Villaro added that investigators are enhancing CCTV footage that captured the two suspects, including a clip that revealed one of the gunmen’s face after his bonnet briefly came off.
Villaro said no persons of interest have been identified yet.
The 54-year-old Lincuna was a resident of Barangay Lamac, Consolacion, Cebu. He was on his way to work when the attack occurred.
The victim was assigned to the Bureau of Internal Revenue District Office in Cebu City where he handled large-scale business, property, and real-estate matters.
According to the police, family and friends disclosed that the victim had not received any death threats before he was attacked.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Cebu condemned the killing and called for the immediate resolution of the case.
“The IBP-Cebu Chapter unequivocally condemns this brazen act of violence,” the organization said, describing the ambush as a direct assault on the rule of law and the legal profession.
The BIR also condemned the killing in a statement.