BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA and CYRUS GARDE
BACOLOD City – A consultant for the Negros Occidental provincial government was gunned down by unidentified assassins in San Carlos City on Monday evening, April 12. His friends and colleagues mourned his death.
The 62-year-old Mariano Antonio “Marton” Cui III – provincial consultant for hospital operations – sustained two gunshot wounds on the neck, according to Police Colonel Romy Palgue, director of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO).
Cui was leaving his office at Emerald Arcade on F.C. Ledesma Avenue around 8 p.m. when attacked, initial investigation showed.
He just collapsed, his bodyguards and witnesses told investigators.
They soon learned that Cui had been shot as he was bleeding.
Cui was rushed to the San Carlos City Hospital. He died around 9:00 p.m.
The San Carlos City police believed the gunman could have used a long-range weapon, possibly a sniper rifle.
Cui’s bodyguards told the police they did not hear any gunshot, adding to the possibility that the assassin used a silencer.
A review of the video footages of nearby closed circuit television cameras also spotted a white van leaving the crime scene and heading towards the direction of Calatrava town.
NOCPPO formed a taskforce to investigate the shooting.
‘GENEROUS, LOVING’
Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson expressed shock over Cui’s sudden passing.
“I am deeply saddened and shocked by the murder of a dear friend. Marton was a fine gentleman and a mild-mannered individual. I cannot understand why someone would do him harm,” Lacson said.
The governor added that he had a talk with Cui’s family, and his son San Carlos City Councilor Mark Cui will ask the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe his father’s death.
The provincial capitol grounds in Bacolod City placed the Philippine flag on half-mast.
Panay News sources also shared that Cui had helped a lot of Negrenses, especially residents of San Carlos City and the 1st District of Negros Occidental.
The victim had no known enemies, according to close friends and business acquaintances.
Prior to becoming a provincial consultant, Cui served as chief of staff of then Negros Occidental 1st district congressman Jules Ledesma.
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos condemned the murder.
“We are shocked! This is totally unexpected! As your pastor, I strongly condemn this abominable assault on the primacy and sanctity of human life! His death is another mark of senselessness on the use of violence against human life. When will these killings stop? This culture of death must end!” Alminaza wrote on social media.
UNCLEAR MOTIVE
It is currently unclear as to what was the motive behind the capitol official’s assassination.
However, police are looking into the possibility of politics being behind the crime.
There had been unofficial reports that Cui had plans on running for town mayor of Toboso in the 2022 elections.
In 2018, Cui was dragged in an alleged drug cartel and controversial suspected drug lord Peter Lim.
But Atty. Aaron Lirazan, lawyer of Cui, said the complaint brought before the NBI was “politically motivated” and could be aimed at influencing the 2019 midterm elections./PN
