Gatungay family dangles P50T to possible witness

CEBU - The sister of the slain Gerry Giuseppe Gatungay announced a P50,000 reward to anyone who could point to the members of a street gang who killed him last week in barangay Punta Princesa.

Frances Gatungay said that her family believes many could have possibly witnessed the crime, but are just afraid to show up.

Gerry Giuseppe, 19, was stabbed to death allegedly by five youngsters in Punta Princesa while he was on his way home to barangay Basak-Pardo past midnight of October 28.

The assailants who reportedly went on a rampage attacked the victim at the corner of Ganciang and Olive Streets after damaging a lawyer’s car parked near the crime scene.

Earlier, it was reported that a trisikad driver overheard five youngsters in black shirts saying “ngita mi’g riot, part.”

The victim who sustained multiple stab wounds was rushed by personnel of the Mobile Patrol Group to the city hospital where he died after a couple of hours.

Aside from calling on witnesses to testify for the case, relatives of the victim appealed to the police to fast track the investigation.

Frances said the “pace of the investigation is very slow” and that they “never felt the presence of the enforcers” while they are struggling to “seek justice for the senseless death” of her brother.

“When I went to the Homicide Section, I was just told that they could not proceed with the investigation because no one is willing to testify. In fact, the police just instructed me to go and find a witness myself,” she added.

Meanwhile, Punta Princesa barangay captain Rolly Diorico promised to the Gatungay family that he will help conduct a follow-up on the case. He said that he will personally talk with Vice Mayor Michael Rama who is the head of the city police affairs.

Diorico also said that he will be hiring additional 10 people to tighten the security of his barangay for the safety of all. Right now, the government only allows 20 tanods for each barangay so the additional 10 he will be hiring will take a special position. – Jessica Ann Pareja/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)