THE family of Carcar City Association of Barangay Councils President Anthony John “Antoy” Apura believed that the attempt on his life on Jan. 18, 2021, was tied to a 2003 murder case.
Vice Mayor Nicepuro Apura said they could not think of other motives as his son Antoy had not received any threat before the attempt on his life.
The older Apura, in a Balitang Bisdak interview, said his son has no other criminal cases except the murder case, which is on appeal before the Supreme Court.
Anthony John and Sherwin Que, his fraternity brother in Alpha Kappa Rho (Akrho), were found guilty of the killing of 19-year-old business management student Mark James Enriquez in 2003.
Que had admitted to shooting Enriquez to death. Anthony John was convicted as an accomplice.
Que was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in jail, while Apura was sentenced to six to 14 years. In June 2007, however, the court granted Apura’s motion to post bail of P200,000.
The Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of Que and Apura in 2014.
Police statement
Lt. Col. Allan Rosario, Carcar police chief, said they are looking into the murder case.
The other possible reasons behind the attack that the police are investigating include political and business conflicts.
Antoy is the barangay captain of Valladolid and he could have gained enemies along the way; however, the vice mayor shrugged off the theory that his son has enemies, saying the next election is still far away.
Last Monday, Anthony John was about to drive away from the parking area of Acacia Grill in Valladolid past 3 p.m. when unidentified men opened fire at his vehicle.
Apura, who was with a male friend, managed to crawl away from the vehicle. He had scratches on his hands, knees and other parts of his body.
The gunmen had parked their black vehicle about 20 meters behind Apura’s car. They waited until Apura and his friend emerged from the restaurant and climbed into the city official’s car, and they fled towards Cebu City in their black vehicle.
Rosario said he tasked his investigators to get witnesses and gather more evidence, including footage of security cameras from establishments near the restaurant.
City Councilor Jay Garcia, chairman of the peace and order committee, said the City Council has condemned the attack on his fellow public official. (GPL, REV / KAL)