NBI, police join hands in probe
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 is looking into three angles in their probe on the ambush of Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot and his family in the town’s port in Barangay Maya last May 13.
NBI 7 Director Patricio Bernales Jr. said there have been high-ranking officials who asked that the incident be investigated.
He said that among the angles they are pursuing is on the work of Loot as a politician and as a police official in the past.
The NBI is also looking into the possibility that some people are harboring grudges with Loot.
Bernales said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will look into the involvement of illegal drugs in the incident, if there’s any.
Loot is one of the officials named by President Rodrigo Duterte as drug protectors.
NBI 7 investigators visited the crime scene last May 15 and talked to Loot.
“So far wala pa gyud tay na-gather nga tawo nga makasulti nga kaila sa perpetrators (We still have no one who can identify the gunmen),” Bernales said.
He said he is willing to work with police in the investigation.
“Seguro mas advance ang investigation sa pulis kay gawas nga daghan sila, naa sad silay pulis didto. Kung naa tay makuha nga ebidensiya, we will be sharing the evidence with them o unsa man atong makuha (The police have more people and must be advanced in their investigation),” dugang ni Bernales. SCG
Police’s Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Maya said it also has leads to the identities of the gunmen in the strafing.
Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Senior Supt. Manuel Abrugena said they are looking into some personalities, but refused to reveal details to avoid pre-empting their operations.
“The investigation is still ongoing to solve the case of the incident in Daanbantayan so that we can name and identify the persons behind the straffing,” Abrugena said.
Abrugena welcomed the parallel investigation of the NBI 7.
“We are more than happy that another law enforcement agency is with us in the conduct of this investigation,” Abrugena said.
The newly-installed provincial director said that orders will be issued for the relief of Daanbantayan chief of police, Senior Insp. Irish Dilem.
Dilem in a text messge said that she has yet to receive the order.