Partner of slain ‘drug lord’ files complaint vs cops
The live-in partner of the slain drug suspect in Minglanilla town formally lodged a complaint against the police before the Commission on Human Rights in Central Visayas (CHR-Region 7).
CHR-7 Investigation Section head Leo Villarino said Evangeline Briones, the partner of Jovelio Franza, who was killed in an alleged shootout with the police in Sitio Bacay, Barangay Tulay last February 19, showed up at CHR-7 office recently to execute an affidavit.
Villarino also said that CHR-7 knew that Briones is still hiding from the police because she fears for her life. proprio procedure on Franza’s death separate and independent from the police.
The new development signals a progress in the investigation but CHR-7 could not yet set a timeframe for its completion because investigators do not have to be pressed with deadlines as they may come up with a “half-baked” report.
“We will continue with the investigation. Sooner or later, if we feel it is high time that the police will answer then we will be sending the necessary subpoena for them to answer the complaint,” he said.
Villarino further explained that when the investigators have gathered sufficient evidence to support Briones’ complaint, the involved police officers will be asked to submit a counter affidavit to respond to the allegations.
Moreover, Villarino said the local commission is not only investigating the death of the suspected drug trafficker but is also looking into the death of the police officer who was among those who conducted the operation.
The enforcer from the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Minglanilla police was Police Officer 2 Evie Espina, who succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head. He died while being treated at the South General Hospital in nearby Naga town.
“We can’t just simply sit back and say we are concerned on the death of the drug suspect. We are also equally concerned on the death of the police officer at that time… it is also equally important to know how come this police was killed during that incident,” he said.
Meanwhile, a drug surrenderer was shot dead by two identified assailants in Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City yesterday morning.
The victim, identified as Renato Amores, 51, a resident of the place, sustained two gunshot wounds in the different parts of his body that resulted in his death.
Amores, a jeepney barker, was reportedly sitting under a waiting shed when the two unidentified assailants on board a motorcycle suddenly appeared and shot him twice.
Amores was hit in his left chest and right arm and was immediately brought to the nearest hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
The assailants remain at large.The police recovered from the crime scene two empty shells of a hand gun.
Follow-up investigation is being conducted to determine the possible motive of the incident.