IBP-Cebu City allows turnover of vigilante killings info to NBI

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City chapter board of directors has approved a resolution authorizing its president to turn over to the National Bureau of Investigation all information allegedly in his possession about the series of vigilante killings in the city.

The IBP-Cebu City board resolution came in the wake of complaints from some directors who denied giving their president Alex Tolentino the authority to conduct an investigation and related actions on the killings.

Tolentino himself called for an emergency board meeting yesterday to avert the confusing situation from getting worse.

He got what he wanted and that was the board's authorization for him to turn over any evidence he claimed to have gathered so far to the NBI.

It was recalled that Tolentino, last Monday, said he would turn over finally all information and evidence in his possession to NBI regional director Medardo de Lemos.

Tolentino, however, later belied his earlier claim that he already turned over the evidence to De Lemos that Monday evening, and clarified that what he and the director did that time was a mere preliminary discussion about the formal turnover of evidence.

Tolentino now said that the man, who had been helping him in the gathering of information about the vigilante killings, would be with him during the turnover.

He however refused to divulge the name of the person but a source told The Freeman that the man was the former NBI regional director, Florencio Villarin.

Tolentino yesterday backtracked from his earlier claim that the IBP was already 75 percent near the solution of the vigilante-style killings, and that he already has the names and pictures of the so-called vigilantes.

He said that the IBP only have raw information that a competent government agency like the NBI can investigate further. "It may give them a lead because these are raw information," he said.

Once the information and evidence are turned over to the NBI, Tolentino said the IBP would no longer issue any statement about the vigilante killings.

He appealed however to the members of the media, particularly Bobby Nalzaro, to stop criticizing him and the IBP. "Mohangyo na ko, especially ni Bobby Nalzaro, undang na intawon og atake sa IBP," he said.

Tolentino said he did nothing wrong to warrant strongly negative commentaries. He said it was not a mistake for him to accept documents and information that were given him voluntarily about the vigilante killings. - Fred P. Languido