Police authorities in Cebu City have pinpointed suspects believed to be responsible for the deadly shooting of a barangay councilor in the early hours of Saturday, January 3, 2026.
Victim and the Attack
The victim was identified as Councilor Ramon Diamante, who was also a fish trader operating at the Pasil Fish Port. He was gunned down by assailants on a motorcycle, a method known as riding-in-tandem, while he was walking along General Gines Street in Barangay Sawang Calero.
Police Investigation and Manhunt
Police Colonel George Ylanan, the chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), confirmed that suspects have been identified. However, he stated that their names are not yet being publicly released as a manhunt operation is actively ongoing.
Ylanan revealed that the suspects were captured on CCTV footage and are also known to investigators from the Sawang Calero Police Station. He further disclosed a critical link, stating this violent incident is connected to another shooting case in the same barangay that occurred in recent weeks, which police had previously solved.
"It was related to another shooting incident, it was related because those involved belong to the same barangay, the POIs (persons of interest) or the suspects are identified. They are already the subject of a manhunt operation," Ylanan said.
Witnesses and Accomplices
Authorities have already gathered witnesses who were able to recognize the suspects from the CCTV video. The suspects are also reported to be residents of the same locality.
In a significant development, Colonel Ylanan added that upon backtracking through various CCTV cameras in the area, investigators determined that more than two individuals were involved in the crime. These additional persons are considered accomplices who were possibly in the area acting as lookouts or providing information about the victim's movements to the gunman and the motorcycle driver.
The police continue their pursuit, leveraging witness accounts and video evidence to apprehend all individuals connected to the assassination of Councilor Diamante.
