42 year-old Jose Beltran, a San Pedro Taximan better known as Mr. Rigo, became the 7th murder victim in two and a half days. Police found him dead inside his vehicle in the San Juan Area of San Pedro this morning at 10:00. He had been tied up and shot in the head. The senior command of the Police Eastern Division has been on the island for weeks trying to root out the crime problem, and this evening, Senior Superintendent Edward Broaster briefed the media about what they've been able to find out.
He told us just over an hour ago that it appears that his killers targeted this law abiding resident for his taxi, which they planned to use in the commission of a crime:
Sr. Supt. Edward Broaster
"We responded, we found the male person with one gunshot wound to the head and our response to the incident, we managed to apprehend one of the main suspects. We've confiscated a boat with a 75 horse power engine that was use as the getaway vessel. We have one main suspect in custody and we are searching for two others."
Reporter
"Talk to me in terms of the person himself. What kind of individual was he? Did he have a record on the island? Was he known to authorities?"
Sr. Supt. Edward Broaster
"He was not known to authorities. It's unfortunate. My sympathies goes out to the family. He seemed to be a law aiding citizen and the investigation continues as to the motive as to why they killed him. We suspect basically that he was killed so that his vehicle could have been use in the commission of a crime."
Reporter
"Are you able to disclose the details of that crime?"
Sr. Supt. Edward Broaster
"Not at this time."
Reporter
"The crime was carried or was it planned?"
Sr. Supt. Edward Broaster
"The crime was not carried out."
Reporter
"Is your investigation showing that there was a crime being planned?"
Sr. Supt. Edward Broaster
"Yes. The victim feet was bound and it definitely appears as if though they were planning to jack his vehicle."
When the news hit the social media, former customers of Jose Beltran gave an outpouring of condolences to his family. They mostly expressed shock that this, their favorite taxi driver, had been killed in this cruel manner.
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