BOYFRIEND TELLS POLICE ‘I DIDN’T GIVE ASHLEY ECSTASY’

Nel Spencer Tiu denies providing the party drugs that led to Ashley Abad’s death from an Ecstasy overdose The Abad family spokesman says Tiu’s appearance, nearly a month after the incident, was “too late”

Nel Spencer Tiu finally appeared before the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) last Wednesday, Feb. 13, to participate in the ongoing investigation on the death of his girlfriend, 19-yearold Ashley Abad.

Ashley died from an Ecstasy overdose on Jan. 20, a day after she collapsed during an open-air concert at the Cebu Business Park.

Tiu, who was accompanied by his parents, was immediately asked to give his testimony on what happened on the night of Jan. 19, said Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Debold Sinas.

Tiu denied having any hand in providing party drugs that led to his girlfriend’s death.

“We were about to wrap up our investigation on Ashley Abad when Nel Spencer Tiu and his parents appeared before (CCPO Director Royina) Garma. He told investigators he denied everything,” Sinas said.

With Tiu’s appearance, Sinas said they would no longer ask Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde to use his subpoena power to have the boyfriend investigated.

He said the CCPO’s investigation was wrapping up and they would file the appropriate charges against those responsible soon.

Although he said he could not disclose the names of the respondents in the case, Sinas said they were set to file homicide or reckless imprudence resulting to homicide charges against two persons.

Confirmation sought

Sinas said they were still trying to determine if there was basis to file charges against the respondents, especially since Abad’s companions would not say who provided the party drugs during the party.

He said they needed confirmation after someone provided them with information as to who the culprit was.

However, he refused to identify the culprit, pending their investigation.

The police have also completed collecting the affidavits of Ashley’s friends, especially those who were with her on the night she collapsed.

Abad’s parents have also executed an affidavit, expressing their willingness to file a case against those responsible for their daughter’s death.

When told that Tiu finally showed up at the CCPO on Monday, the Abads said “it was too late.”

Evading police investigation and invoking his constitutional right even though he was only asked to shed light on the incident were signs of guilt, said Benny Abad, the family spokesman.

“As Ashley’s boyfriend, he (Tiu) should have led in finding justice for her, not hid from the police inquiry. He should have been the star witness of the incident because he was the one who asked permission from Ashley’s parents for her to go with him that night of Jan. 19 to attend a party,” Benny said.

He said Tiu’s decision to show up to the police after a month in hiding was already suspicious.

Benny said the police was correct to identify the suppliers, pushers and users of Ecstasy in Cebu because they all contributed to his niece’s death.