Tumulak denies tampering evidence, mauling cop asset
After having interrogated by the police for over three hours, Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak expressed his dismay over accusations that he tampered with the crime scene and mauled police asset Michael Banua after the shooting incident in Barangay Tejero last Monday.
Tumulak denied mauling Banua and promised to cooperate with the police in the investigation into the alleged foiled assassination of Tejero Councilman Jessielou Cadungog. The incident instead resulted in the death of the alleged hitman, PO3 Eugene Calumba, and the arrest of Banua.
“Kasabot ko sa ilang (police) sentiment kay police ang namatay. But for me, I'm just doing my job as person in authority, as public servant. Kahibaw ko sa protocol sa police. Wala koy gilapas nga balaod,” Tumulak told reporters.
Police accused Tumulak of tampering with evidence such as Banua's wallet and magazine with live rounds of ammunition. Tumulak said he did not tamper with the pieces of evidence since these were turned over to him by the nurse.
He said he rushed Banua to Cebu City Medical Center for treatment after seeing the latter with full of blood on his shirt.
“Akong pag adto, pagkuha nako ni Michael Banua kay ang paghatag og proteksyon kay daghan na akong nakit-an nga nag dala og pusil nga mga civilian. Nisyagit nako nga ayaw ninyo hilabti kon wala pa nako gi rescue, 100 percent sure mamatay siya didto," Tumulak said.
He believes that Banua is a vital witness to the incident since there are two opposing versions of had happened. Tumulak claimed that no police officers accepted when he turned over the evidence to them, prompting him to give it to Mayor Tomas Osmeña instead.
“Asa man ko dapita nga ni obstruct sa ilang operation or obstruction of justice? Maong nag libog ko. Ang allegation ni Banua nga gikulata siya, giunsa niya pag ila nga ako? Nag puti ko og polo. Giunsa man niya pag ila nga si Dave Tumulak ko? Nga ako man ang nag rescue niya ug nagdala sa CCMC para matambalan siya,” he said, adding that he will just answer the complaint against him.
He urged the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police to thoroughly investigate the matter. Despite his disappointment, he vowed to continue giving assistance to the police as the chairperson of the City Council's committee on public order and safety and as deputy mayor for police matters.
Osmeña cried harassment of what the police did to Tumulak.
“That's all bullshit. That's pure bullshit. It can't withstand scrutiny. Let the CIDG file. They'll make a fool out of himself. I just want to point out to Cebuanos that this is a form of harassment. He's withholding evidence? The fact is that it's the nurse that gave it to them,” Osmeña said when asked for comment about the accusations against Tumulak.
The mayor believes that Tumulak has no vested interest to tamper with the evidence at the crime scene, adding that he was there as deputy mayor for police matters. Osmeña said he will let Cebu City Police Office director Sr. Supt. Royina Garma to resolve the incident.
Osmeña also prefers the National Bureau of Investigation to handle the investigation because the incident involves a policeman.—