IAS official shot dead in Cebu City

November 22, 2019

An official from the Philippine National Police- Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) was shot dead in Cebu City last Thursday.

Police Brigadier General Val de Leon, Central Visayas regional director, identified the victim as Lieutenant Colonel Joie Yape who is assigned in Camp Crame.

De Leon said the incident transpired around 5:35 p.m. along Molave Street in Barangay Kamputhaw while the victim was walking with his wife.

The couple just attended an event at a hotel when a man on a motorcycle shot Yape in the head.

Yape was rushed to the nearest  hospital but he was declared dead upon arrival by doctors due to the gunshot wound in the head. Yape's wife was unharmed.

De Leon condemned the killing and ordered the Cebu City Police to investigate and gather information to identify the suspects.

“This is unacceptable. I’m ordering the City Police Office to thoroughly investigate, identify and arrest the suspects in this dastardly act,” he said.

In an interview with reporters, De Leon said the possible motive could be related to his job.

"For me, it could possible on his previous position... and he is here to attend also a hearing... we are looking at everything, including job-related (angle) because he is in IAS now," De Leon said.

Before Yape was assigned in Camp Crame, he was chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch of Cebu Provincial Police Office.

He was also spokesperson of Bohol Provincial Police Office.

De Leon said a special investigation task group was also created after the incident.  Ella Dionisio/DMS