Hands off, cops told

PROBE INTO KILLINGS IN CEBU

Considering that the police are tagged in what survivors say was a summary execution in Barangay Malubog, Cebu City, some officials are asking the cops to step aside and let other agencies look into the killings if only to maintain impartiality in the investigation.

At the Capitol, Governor Hilario Davide III said it would be better if the National Bureau of Investigation will be the one to conduct the investigation.

The killings in Malubog left five people dead inside a van. Survivors of the shooting, Antonio Belande and Sharmaine Puran, have tagged the police as responsible for the killings.

"If ing-ana nga instances where the victim herself moallege nga duna gani mention nga police, sa ato pa, kinahanglan ang moimbestigar ana kay lain nga agency, not police, kay magduda man pud na nga i-whitewash," said Davide, who is also chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council in Central Visayas.

Councilor Pastor Alcover, Jr. agrees. He said he will sponsor a resolution that would urge the NBI and even the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to step in and investigate.

“Let's have a series of investigation on this matter kay og mohimo dayon ta og conclusion, para nako, unfair kaayo. Daghan kaayo og mga grupo, we do not know unsa'y tumong ani. Ang ako ani, naa gyu'y serious investigation ani,” Alcover said.

CRITICISM

The five people found dead in a van were just among the 15 that were killed across Metro Cebu in a span of seven hours. The One-Time, Bigtime operation of the police also resulted in the death of 10 suspects who resisted arrest during implementation of warrants of arrest and buy-bust operations.

Yesterday, Brother Peter Simon Jardinico of the Franciscan Friars of Charity said Police Regional Office-7 Director Debold Sinas must step down because the police force under his leadership has failed in protecting the lives of civilians.

"If we assess the situation, several killings are reported in a day? More than 10 in one day? What kind of police management is he leading?" Jardinico said.

"Being the head of a (pro-life) movement, I want him to be out from his post and he, too, should undergo a thorough investigation particularly on how he runs the police regional office," he added.

Jardinico is the chairperson of the Franciscan Solidarity Movement for Justice and Peace Integrity of Creation.

He said every human life, even of a suspected criminal, is sacred and must be respected. He said suspected criminals must be afforded due process.

He said he is not defending criminals but justice and punishment must be handed down by the courts.

Cebu City South District Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa described the killings “alarming.”

“I think that's very alarming, very alarming. How many dead in seven hours? And how many tomorrow? How many next week? Are we gonna kill everybody?” he said.

He said the recent killings can make the public ask how the police are handling criminality in the community.

“That's a very big question on the leadership of the police here in the city, in the region. So I believe Philippine National Police (PNP) should look into this, should consider what the people have been reacting to these days,” he said.

Sinas is not affected by the criticism. He said he will step down only if ordered to do so by his superior, PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde.

“We are not afraid because we are not involved. If ugma mustorya si Chief PNP nga ‘Sinas relieve ka na,' muana ko, ‘Thank you.' Why should I step down? Tungod lang sa ila gipangsulti? I will, if there will be orders,” he said.

Councilor David Tumulak, the deputy mayor for police matters, urged the cops to follow legal procedures in their anti-illegal drug operations.

“I fully support the PNP on the anti-illegal drugs campaign. Hangyo lang ta sa PNP, if naa'y operation sa illegal drugs, it should be in order. It should be according to law,” he said.

INVESTIGATION

Amidst calls for an independent investigation, the police have already started its probe into the Malubog killings.

Sinas said they are looking into drugs as motive in the killings, considering that the shabu reportedly found from the victims is said to be worth P1.7 million.

“We are looking into drugs as the angle because of what we found… but everything is still possible at this point,” Sinas said.

PRO-7 spokesperson Reyman Tolentin echoed Sinas' statement, saying it is possible that the group was doublecrossed in their dealings with another drug group.

“It is highly-possible that there was double-crossing, among drug groups,” he said.

The first body to be identified was that of Christopher Tangag, 23, from Barangay Basak San Nicolas. Yesterday, the other fatalities were identified as Carl Cabahug, Leyster Abella, Rolando Tayor, and Dirovan Sarijorjo.

WITNESSES

The investigation will also reportedly give weight to the statements of Belande and Puran. The two had disclosed in a radio interview that they survived a summary execution done by police officers.

But Sinas said the families of the two have reportedly told him that they had denied the police had any involvement.

Sinas blamed media for interviewing Belande and Puran while they were in a state of shock, contending that their supposed disclosure might have been just a “spur of the moment” as they are “emotionally unstable.”

“If we based it on her (Puran) statements, she came from a traumatic experience, and was in shock and emotionally unstable. Bisag unsa imo madungog mao na to imo istorya. We are not involved. Mao akoang giingon dili sa mi mukuha sa statements unless okay na,” Sinas said.

He said they will provide Belande and Puran security.