DCPO to conduct separate probe on rape suspects’ disappearance

A SEPARATE investigation will be conducted by the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) into the disappearance of Kent Lawrence Espinosa, who was one of the four suspects charged with rape and homicide by the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Bragas last June 5.

The charges were being filed to Espinosa, who was one of the suspects of architect Vlanche Marie Bragas’ death on May 16, 2023.

According to a spot report sent to SunStar Davao, Bragas was strangled to death and had incurred “penetrating genital trauma”.

During SITG Bragas’ press conference, DCPO director Police Colonel Alberto Lupaz said they will conduct a separate investigation regarding Espinosa’s disappearance as he remains missing, together with the “John Doe” or an unidentified suspect.

“We will conduct another investigation for that case doon sa pagkawala ng mga taong ‘yan (to the disappearances of two people involved in the crime),” Lupaz said in a press conference, June 5.

Reportedly, Espinosa was allegedly “being abducted” last May 27 and had been missing since.

Not only Espinosa, but another suspect Dennis Panzan was rescued by Talomo Police in Matina Pangi last May 29, after being allegedly haunted by abductors, however he died in Davao Adventist Hospital by that same day.

Meanwhile, Calinan Police Station Chief of Police Major Neil Vistar said they are also “conducting thorough investigation” on how Panzan and Espinosa were allegedly being abducted and had gone missing.

According to the Link Analysis Diagram presented by Vistar, the witness “Michael” identified Espinosa through a tattoo on his right hand. The witness, in his affidavit, said Bragas rode with Espinosa in the ongbak.

However, Lupaz said in a radio interview June 7, that the ongbak has yet to be found.

“We cannot also establish kinsa ang tag-iya ato… pero naa tay mga RA Baja na mga baobao na isa-isahon nato ang mga tag-iya ani (We have yet to find the certain ongbak that was being rode by the suspects, and we are investigating closely the owners of certain RA Baja baobao models in the city to determine which one had been used during the incident),” Lupaz said in an interview with Davao City Disaster Radio, June 7. /

We will conduct another investigation for that case doon sa pagkawala ng mga taong ‘yan.

PCOL. ALBERTO LUPAZ

DCPO director