EJK SURVIVOR, KIN OF SABALONES?

CHR chief investigator says they were able to obtain additional information from survivor, who is now considered a vital witness

Police investigators are checking reports that Sharmaine Poran is a relative of a self-confessed drug lord.

Cebu City Police Office Director Royina Garma said they will validate the information that Poran is a niece of Franz Sabalones.

Garma said they have information about Poran, but she did not elaborate.

Poran and motorcycle-for-hire driver Antonio Belande were the only survivors in the shooting that happened in Barangay Malubog, Cebu City last October 4.

Both survivors had been discharged from the Cebu City Medical Center. Poran is now under the custody of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) 7.

CHR 7 said Poran insisted that policemen were behind what she said was a summary execution of five men, Balitang Bisdak reported.

CHR 7 chief investigator Leo Villarino said they obtained more information from Poran, who is now considered a vital witness.

Police Regional Office 7 Director Debold Sinas denied that his men were involved in the deaths of Carl Cabahug, 26, of Barangay Lorega San Miguel, Leyster Abella, 26, of Barangay Calamba, Rolando Tayor, 29, of Barangay Labangon, Diorvan Sarijorjo, and Christopher Tangag, of Barangay Mambaling.

Sinas belied the report that Belande was taken into police custody, saying the latter went straight to his home after he was discharged last Sunday.

The motorcycle-for-hire driver, Sinas said, wished that the news about him will die down.

Mabolo Police Station Chief Dindo Alaras said they have yet to pinpoint a suspect.

He said they failed to trace the owner of the white van that ferried the group to Malubog. He said the license plate is not registered with the Land Transportation Office.

Investigators will also check the identity of a certain “Juvel” who was with Poran in One Pavilion in Banawa, Cebu City before the abduction.

Poran said she was with Juvel for an illegal drug transaction before unidentified armed men abducted her.

Alaras said one of the fatalities fits the description of Juvel, but the findings are not yet definitive.

“We don’t have conclusions yet. We’re still conducting a thorough background investigation on the person, his relations, records,” he said.

Alaras said they have difficulty getting a statement from Poran as she is in the care of CHR 7.

Meanwhile, Jerry Lou Labra, an alleged barangay intelligence network member, was arrested for carrying an unlicensed firearm in the vicinity of Archbishop’s Residence in Cebu City.

Labra, who yielded a revolver loaded with bullets, was reportedly looking for Poran. He will be facing complaints for illegal possession of firearm.