Brother of slain engineer wants old post with Compostela police

CEBU, Philippines - SPO1 Silas Ceballo, the policeman accused of involvement in the death of his brother, is asking Acting Provincial Police Director Erson Digal to allow him to return to the Compostela Police Station.

Ceballo told reporters yesterday he wants to be assigned back to Compostela so he could resume with his duties as chief of the traffic, jail and supply, a post that remains vacant since he was booted out of the police station. 

Ceballo is currently assigned at the Provincial Security Service Group.

“Mo-ari man gani among hepe ug ang mayor para muhangyo nga mobalik ko didto sa Compostela… pero depende lang ni og unsa…gusto sa akong labaw mao lang akong tumanon pero kung mahimo nga mabalik ko, mas maayo,” Ceballo said.

He said even if he would be assigned back to Compostela, it would still be easy for him to travel to the city because he has a motorcycle, in case he would be summoned to appear in the ongoing investigation on the death of his brother, Cebu Holdings Inc. engineer Malequias Ceballo.

Malequias died when motorcycle-riding men peppered his Toyota Hilux with bullets while he was driving along barangay Pitogo in Consolacion town towards Cebu City on April 16.

Ceballo became subject of the investigation after police considered his reported conflict with Malequias a possible motive for the kill. Police are also looking into land dispute and job-related angles.

Ceballo denied any involvement and said he is confident he would be eventually dismissed as suspect.

“Ako pa man gani naglihok sa tanan para malubong na akong igsuon kay nagpatabang man ang iyang asawa nako. Paet pa gyud kay ang Cebu Holdings wala pa nihatag sa ilang mga assistance,” Ceballo said. — Christopher Gabriel C. Bonjoc/JMO (THE FREEMAN)