PNP orders investigation on slaying of Tacloban vendors leader

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July 19, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Tacloban City Police Chief Romulo Cleve Taboso assured that the Philippine National Police is already conducting the necessary investigation on the shooting incident which killed Charlie Solayao, 50 years old, the vice president of the Katipunan Han Mga Gudti nga Magtirinda (KAGUMA) which is affiliated with the Bayan Muna, and also of the Katipunan ng Damayan ng Mamamayan (KADAMAY) which is affiliated with the Anakpawis.

When interviewed by the Philippine Information Agency, Col. Taboso was waiting for Mrs. Marina Solayao, the wife of the slained, who was with him during the slaying.

Colonel Taboso added that the Philippine National Police has immediately installed the needed checkpoints after the shooting incident. He assured the public that the PNP will not rest until the case has been resolved. So far, however, the PNP has yet no lead as to the identity of the perpetrators.

Verified reports said that Solayao has been known as “leader, together with his brother David, of the rallies which were held in the past in Tacloban.”

Meanwhile, PNP Regional Director Abner Cabalquinto informed the Philippine Information Agency that he immediately ordered the investigation of the shooting incident as soon as he was informed about it.

According to police reports, Solayao was shot at around 1:50 in the morning of Tuesday (July 17) in front of the parking area of the CITLOUR bus company in Barangay Naga-Naga, Barangay 71, a village located in the northern part of Tacloban City.

Initial Police investigation disclosed that while the slained Solayao and his wife Marina were waiting for a passenger vehicle bound for the shed house in Sagkahan District where they would purchase fish which they will sell in the city Public Market, two unidentified gunmen clad in black satin jackets and riding in tandem on a yellow lady’s type motorcycle without plate number, approached him.

The black rider who was wearing a bonnet allegedly stepped down from the motorcycle and shot the victim five times in the different parts of his body and then the suspect immediately fled to the direction of the city proper.