Cop's CO-WORKERS 'killer' SAY: was on duty
The co-workers of Felix Taytayan, the suspect in the killing of PO1 Mae Sasing, came to his defense and said he was with them the day Sasing was killed last October 31 but police said their statements are inconsistent.
The police spoke to Taytayan’s co-workers at the marine vessel where Taytayan worked as an apprentice before he was arrested last Friday.
The captain of the vessel, for one, said Taytayan was at the vessel working when the killing took place evening on October 31 but reportedly admitted he did not monitor Taytayan the entire time.
"Ako gipangutana ang kapitan: Kapitan, katong nagkargada mo, diin man ka ato? Ingon siya, ‘didto kos ibabaw (sa vessel), si Felix dinha man to sa ubos.' So wala ka kakita all throughout nga si Felix wala molakaw? Niingon siya wala," said SPO4 Natalio Mercader, chief investigator of the Investigation and Detection Management Branch (IDMB) of the Mandaue City Police Office.
Taytayan's coworkers, meanwhile, also said that Taytayan was with them last October 31.
But Mercader said it is but natural that Taytayan's colleagues would have his back.
"Dili sad consistent ilahang gisulti… naturally, sila gyod kauban tanan, posible nga modepensa sila," Mercader said.
"Katungod man sad na nila modepensa. Ang amo lang diha, tua naman sa husgado, sa fiscal ang atong ebidensya. It's up for the prosecutor sa korte mo-evaluate sa atong ebidensya nga gipresentar," he said.
He said all circumstantial evidence point to Taytayan being the killer.
"Kami police, wala mi gidapigan. Tanan circumstantial evidences nag-point out niya," Mercader said, referring to Taytayan.
At least three people reportedly testified seeing Taytayan in Barangay Jugan in Consolacion, at the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, and in Barangay Basak, Mandaue City where Sasing was killed.
Taytayan was arrested in Barangay Kaongkod, Madridejos in Bantayan Island last November 3 and has been sued for murder.
He has denied the accusations.
"As far as the police is concerned, although circumstantial siya, airtight siya," he said, adding, “Atong ebidensya circumstantial pero base sa rules on evidence, more than one circumstantial evidence, imo na siya i-lump together na mupoint out sa akusado, siya gyod."
Meanwhile, Supt. Elmer Lim, deputy city director for operations of LCPO, believes justice has been served with Taytayan's arrest. He said Sasing's family will receive financial assistance as a benefit from the police organization.
He said the LCPO and MCPO are working together to arrest the other suspect, the driver of the motorcycle Taytayan allegedly used to follow Sasing from LCPO until Mandaue City where he allegedly killed her.