Solving Rupinta's murder

It seems police investigators are now inching closer toward unmasking the real motive behind the killing of barangay captain Felicisimo "Imok" Rupinta of Ermita, Cebu City. This after the arrest of a former convict yesterday dawn.

Rupinta was driving his Isuzu D-Max together with his common-law wife Thursday night in Liloan town when at least two men blocked their way and opened fire, hitting him in the head and shoulder. He was later declared dead upon arrival at a hospital.

There were speculations that the assailants are seasoned guns-for-hire because of the manner the murder was executed, which spared his wife. But as to who hired them to kill the barangay captain is a matter best left to authorities to find out.

In their investigation, the police should need to consider looking at incidents involving Rupinta prior to his death. Delving into those events can very well help them as they are preoccupied with collating all possible evidence.

We all know that Rupinta is the chief of one of Cebu City's controversial barangays where criminality has been a perennial problem. He may have gained enemies in his long years of serving his constituents in Ermita, where the illegal drug trade and other criminal activities have long existed.

Whatever the motive surrounding Rupinta's death, authorities need to immediately solve his murder. This is a high-profile case that police probers cannot afford to leave any stone unturned in their investigation.

Rupinta, being a barangay captain, is one of the biggest political figures murdered in the city in recent years. Therefore, all eyes are now following the case as his family and constituents hope for swift justice. It would be a huge black eye for the police if they fail to immediately solve it.

With the arrest of a suspect, who was identified by Rupinta's wife as one of those who fired at the barangay captain, we are hopeful that authorities are now in the right direction toward the early resolution of the case. However, they need to be careful because a single misstep can crumble the case and bring back their investigation back to square one.