BUTUAN CITY (MindaNews/08 May) – The Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operetor Nationwide (Piston) here and other transport groups in Caraga region condemned the killing of a colleague last Sunday.
Felix Uga Cultura, founder and president of Federation of Van Transport and Allied Services of Caraga (FEVANTRASC) based in Butuan City was shot dead on Sunday afternoon by an unidentified assailant using a cal .45 pistol inside their terminal office.
The crime scene is just a few meters from the bus terminal police station.
In an interview, Angelo Tello, regional coordinator of Piston who also heads a local association of van drivers and operators issued a statement condemning the killing of Cultura.
“We strongly condemn the killing of Felix Cultura who is also a member of Piston. We have seen and supported the group’s campaigns for a better livelihood and way of life for van drivers and operators,” he said.
Tello pointed out that several transport groups under FEVNATRSC and Piston are hoping that Cultura’s death had nothing to do with the conflict related to the management of the terminal.
He said they will closely monitor the police investigation of the case and seek justice for Cultura’s death.
Butuan police chief Senior Superintendent Pedro Obaldo Jr. said that they are looking at different angles in Cultura’s killing, including the possibility that it was triggered by rivalry with other transport groups.
Obaldo added they already have a suspect, but said they have to probe deeper so as to identify the possible mastermind.
The police chief is also putting the men and personnel of the bus terminal police station for possible liability and responsibility why they were not able to properly respond to the shooting just a few meters away.
In an interview with Cultura and members of FEVNATRSC a month earlier, the group the management of the terminal of irregularities, including giving alleged special treatment to a rival group of van drivers and operators. (Erwin Mascarinas/MindaNews)