Guv deplores cops' lapses in Minglanilla slay incident

Governor Gwen Garcia was disappointed over the failure of the Minglanilla Police to use the Capitol-donated communication equipment, which could have helped in arresting the suspected killer of Tunghaan barangay councilman Gilbert Cañares and his first-degree cousin Antonio Cañares over the weekend.

Criminal and administrative sanctions are already being readied against the town policemen whose lapses gave way to the suspect's escape but the governor said she is willing to give them a second chance before pushing for their ouster from the provincial police force.

Garcia said the Capitol had given UHF radio equipment to all police stations in the province, and the Minglanilla Police could have used theirs in alerting other police stations to set up roadblocks against the fleeing suspect.

Garcia lamented that despite her efforts to help the provincial police force, the failure of the human component prevailed.

Tunghaan barangay captain Jeremias Cañares has blamed SPO2 Dominciano Sevilleno and SPO1 George Yap for their failure to arrest the suspected gunman, June Makaantal.

There were unconfirmed reports that the two policemen failed to respond immediately to the alarm of the shooting because they were allegedly "busy" with their girlfriends who were reportedly at the police station at that time.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Vicente Loot has already ordered the relief of the two policemen and their reassignment to Camotes island. But Garcia said it would be unfair to the towns in Camotes getting these two policemen.

The governor said she expected full disciplinary measures against Yap and Sevilleno but she is willing to give them a second chance before asking for their ouster from service.

The CPPO would no longer conduct any investigation against the Yap and Sevilleno, said CPPO deputy director for administration Agustin Lloveras yesterday, because the victims' families have already decided to file criminal and administrative cases against the two at Ombudsman-Visayas.

Lloveras said that should the police conduct a separate probe, there is a risk that this might fall under forum shopping.

The CPPO however would still probe Minglanilla Police chief, Insp. Carlos Reyes, who will be made to explain why he was not at the police station when the incident took place, even if there was prior order of a red alert status for the "Kalag-Kalag" observance.

It was also found that there were only three policemen manning the Minglanilla Police when the shooting occurred.

Garcia later warned policemen who might be involved in illegal activities that she would see to it that they would be kicked out of the police service. -Fred P. Languido with Flor Perolina