PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — Manila Police District yesterday obtained a copy of security videos from the closed circuit television of Hyatt Hotel, where former Commission on Elections chief lawyer, Alioden Dalaig, stayed before he was gunned down.
Chief Insp. Alexander Yanquiling, homicide division head, said the footage could help identify persons the victim met at the casino where he was allegedly a familiar face.
Yanquiling said the video recording would fill the gaps in the account of the hotel security guards who claimed to have heard gunshots but were unable to see the actual shooting of Dalaig.
The Hyatt management, he noted, was hesitant to cooperate, reasoning that clearance must first be secured from the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp., which operated the security cameras.
Without lending credence to a news blackout on the progress of the investigation, Yanguiling refused to describe the images and other details except those already reported to media.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Florentino Tuason, acting chairman in lieu of Commissioner Resurreccion Borra who is on official business abroad, told reporters that security has been tightened at the Comelec’s main office in Intramuros.
“It is imperative that we take precautionary measures to secure the safety of our personnel, officials and commissioners,” he said, indicating that another colleague has been receiving death threats but no name was mentioned.
Starting yesterday, Tuason said the “No ID, No Entry” policy was being enforced at the Palacio del Gobernador, where the poll body is holding office.
“We are now restricting the entry of visitors or guests who have no official transaction with the Comelec.”
On Monday, the Manila police released the artist sketch of the suspected killer of Dalaig based on eyewitness accounts.
Three people came forward claiming the assassin was between 39 to 41 years old, dark skinned, weighing around 180 lbs and 5’6″ tall, in fatigues and black jacket.
Robbery was ruled out because the P300,000 Dalaig carried at the time of the killing, was intact.
Dalaig, the poll body’s legal department head, was shot on a busy street in the Ermita district last Saturday.
Investigation showed a .45-cal slug hit his chest and exited at his shoulder.
Hours before the shooting, the election officer of Bacoor, Cavite, Joseph Anthony del Rosario, was shot dead by unidentified assailants while having a drinking session in his neighborhood.
On Friday, Wao, Lanao del Sur election officer Casan Laguinap and his wife were abducted by a group of men allegedly led by a former village chief in Calinuga town, in the same province.
Tuason justified the strict watch saying the heavy influx of people of different persuasions and agenda to the Comelec office could undermine in-house security and safety if left uncontrolled.