DOJ orders probe on Rotoras murder
THE National Bureau of Investigation-10 (NBI-10) has confirmed on Monday it has received the order from Dept. of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to investigate the death of University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) president Ricardo Rotoras.
NBI-10 regional director Sally Hans Barbaso said he received the DOJ order Monday morning, but pointed out that he had already deployed a team of agents to gather
information even before the directive reached his office.`
“Even before I received the order, we started initial investigation on the case. We can investigate motu propio,” Barbaso said in an interview Monday afternoon.
“When it (killing) happened, I have a standing order to our agents to gather evidence,” he added.
As a matter of fact, he said NBI-10 agents joined the press conference called by the city police regarding Rotoras’ death last Saturday, “to show that we in the NBI are supporting the investigation.”
Barbaso said the NBI leadership did not set a timeframe, as the investigation depends on the evidence that they can gather.
He said the NBI-10 is in close coordination with other law enforcement agencies.
In his Department Order 764, Aguirre has directed and granted authority to the NBI to conduct investigation and case build-up over the death of Dr. Ricardo Rotoras, “and if evidence so warrants, to file appropriate charges thereon.”
Aguirre said he has delegated NBI national director Dante Gierran to look into the killing of Rotoras, the president of the Philippine Association of State Universities and College (PASUC) and University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP), at the time of his death.
Rotoras was gunned down by still unidentified assailants outside his home in Golden Glow North, a posh housing subdivision in Barangay Carmen, this city, on Dec. 2.
Aguirre has also required Gierran to submit a report to the Office of the Secretary on its “current activities related to the implementation of this Order.”
Meanwhile, the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) is silent on developments of its ongoing investigation in the Rotoras killing.
City police director Senior Superintendent Robert Roy Bahian yesterday said they could not reveal yet the updates of the case so as not to jeopardize the investigation and future follow-up operations.
But Bahian said the police is pressing hard and following up all leads in the investigation to swiftly put the perpetrators behind bars.
Bahian also said they are considering in giving protection to the family left by Rotoras who had been receiving death threats prior to the incident.
Bahian is urging everyone who has the knowledge on the killing to report and coordinate with the police by either texting the information through the police hotline or to personally appear before the investigators.