Police have yet to identify the suspects behind the ambush of Buenavista mayoral candidate Atty. Rico Cabbarubias which led to the death of his driver, while the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) has launched a deeper probe into the case.

According to Supt. Conrado Manatad, chief of the BPPO Community Relations Branch, operatives of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) and Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) have been deployed to investigate the fatal ambush.

“As of now, ongoing na ang investigation as IDMB, at the same time sa PIB. Dili pa ta katumbok [suspects] kay maghuwat pa mi sa investigation,” said Manatad.

Police in Getafe where the ambush was carried out on Monday afternoon have earlier noted that there were two gunmen who rode in tandem on a motorcycle.

Cabarrubias was able to alight his Toyota Fortuner and flee during the attack while his driver Conrado Aniasco was shot twice while at the driver’s seat, leading to his death.

Investigators have also speculated that the assailants were not able to go after Cabarobias as there were workers at a construction area nearby.

“Timing pod pagkahitabo kay naay nag construct ba. Di man gud makita ang area so nagtuo ang shooter nga way taw. So pag pusil nila, namarog man ang mga taw, wa nalang pod sila namalik,” said SPO1 Rowel Lagura of the Getafe Police Station.

Meanwhile, Cabbarubias who was uninjured during the attack has been secured by personnel of the Buenavista Police Station at an undisclosed location.

“Right after sa pangahitabo, ato siya gihatagan dayon og police security. Naa ra siya sa usa ka lugar pero confidential,” said Buenavista police chief Sr. Insp. Bonifacio Lucerna. (RT)