Probe on engineer's killing CPPO denies cop's request to be reassigned to Compostela

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu Provincial Police Office acting director Supt. Erson Digal has denied the request of SPO1 Silas Ceballo to be reassigned in Compostela and ordered the police officer to stay at the Provincial Security Service Group (PSSG) while the investigation into his alleged involvement in the killing of his engineer brother is still going on.

“Dili gyud siya nako tugtan nga mabalik didto sa Compostela kay naa pa siya’y kaso nga giatubang,” Digal said.

SPO1 Ceballo has been asking Digal to allow him to return to Compostela Police Station so he could resume his duties as chief of the traffic, jail and supply, a post that remains vacant since he was booted out of the police station. 

“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 in an interview with reporters.

He said that 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 for the ongoing investigation on the death of his brother, Cebu Holdings Inc. engineer Malequias Ceballo.

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

The police officer became the subject of the investigation after police investigators learned about his reported conflict with Malequias, a possible motive for the killing. Investigators are also looking into land dispute and job-related angles.

SPO1 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/WAB (THE FREEMAN)