Duterte directs NBI to probe slay of NegOcc Capitol consultant

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the killing of a provincial consultant for hospital operations in Negros Occidental last month, Malacañang said on Monday.

“Mariing kinukondema ng Pangulo ang pagpatay kay Mr. Mariano Antonio Cui III, consultant for hospital operations ng Negros Occident at dating chief of staff ni Congressman Jules Ledesma (The President strongly condemns the killing of Mr. Mariano Antonio Cui III, consultant for hospital operations of Negros Occidental and former chief-of-staff of Congressman Jules Ledesma),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace press briefing.

Cui III was gunned down in his hometown of San Carlos City on April 12. He was declared dead on arrival at a hospital due to two gunshot wounds to the chest.

Roque said Duterte has vowed that justice will be served for the death of Cui.

“Inatasan ni Presidente ang NBI na imbestigahan ang pagpatay na ito at parusahan ang may-sala at mabigyan ng katarungan ang pamilya ng biktima (The President has directed the NBI to investigate the killing and punish the perpetrator to give justice to the family of the victim),” he said.

Duterte also extended sympathies to the family, friends, and colleagues of Cui.

“Nakikiramay po ang Presidente sa pamilya at sa mga taga-Negros dahil alam po namin na mahal po itong si Mr. Cui sa buong probinsya ng Negros (The President extends condolences to the family and the people of Negros because we know that Mr. Cui is loved by the whole province of Negros),” Roque said.

Police investigation showed that Cui was hit by long-range shots while he was about to board his vehicle outside his office at Emerald Arcade on F.C. Ledesma Avenue, Barangay Palampas at around 8 p.m.

He was brought to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead by an attending physician.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, a former mayor of San Carlos City, said Col. Romy Palgue, police provincial director, has informed him that the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office has formed a special investigation task group to probe the incident.

He said Cui’s brother, San Carlos City Councilor Mark Cui, has also requested the NBI to conduct a parallel investigation.