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[av_heading heading=’Family of ambushed STL operator demands ‘swift action’ ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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Thursday, March 15, 2018
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ILOILO City – The family of ambushed Small Town Lottery (STL) operator Samuel Aguilar has demanded “swift action” from the police.
“We are calling for justice,” the family said in a statement released yesterday.
As of this writing, Aguilar was battling for his life at The Medical City in Molo district. He sustained six gunshot wounds on Tuesday in Barangay Buyu-an, Tigbauan, Iloilo.
During a case conference yesterday at the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), the Tigbauan police released a closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the ambush carried out along the highway. It was from a nearby house with a security camera.
There were two suspects. They were on a motorcycle.
The family condemned “the evil and heinous act” of the assailants.
In the CCTV footage, the driver was wearing a helmet and black jacket. The back rider – who was also the gunman – was wearing a helmet too, a gray jacket with a hood, and a pair of jeans.
“We are calling for justice and we are cooperating with the authorities (so) the latter can take swift action to ensure that the perpetrators are immediately brought to justice,” part of the family’s statement read.
Aguilar’s Eagle Crest Gaming and Holding Corp. had been operating STL in Iloilo province for some two years now.
Even if the suspects concealed their faces, Tigbauan police chief Senior Inspector Hermogenes Eulatic said their securing of the CCTV footage was still a big progress in the investigation.
He was hopeful that it, together with statements from witnesses, would eventually lead to the identification of the two suspects.
“As to the motive, we are exploring all angles,” said Eulatic.
He said they were not discounting the possibility that the first attempt on Aguilar’s life on Sept. 25, 2017 in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila was related to Tuesday’s ambush.
The Aguilar family, meanwhile, appealed for “privacy at this very difficult time.”
The 47-year-old Aguilar was linked by Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office director Sandra Cam to illegal gambling and illegal drugs during a Senate inquiry last month on PCSO and STL.
Aguilar denied Cam’s allegation./PN
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