Tata Negro's "killer" is now in city jail

CEBU, Philippines - Jimmy Diala, the man suspected of killing Cebu City candidate for councilor Cresistomo “Tata Negro” Llaguno, was transferred to the Cebu City Jail yesterday and is now in solitary confinement.

Insp. Richard Laure, deputy warden of the jail, said that Diala has been segregated from the general population of the jail considering the threats to his life after killing Llaguno, an alleged drug lord.

Earlier, Diala expressed fears that he might be killed inside the jail by inmates who are friends of Llaguno.

Llaguno, who was charged and jailed at the city jail for illegal drugs, allegedly served as a “mayor de mayores” of the inmates at one time.

When asked if there will be any special treatment for Diala to ensure his security, Laure said that special treatment is prohibited inside the jail.

Laure said that Diala will be treated like the rest of the inmates, but for the meantime he will be isolated from the rest of the general population. Those assigned to isolation will also be escorted whenever they go out of the isolation area, Laure said.

The warden added that it will depend on their assessment when Diala can join the general population of the jail.

He said that as far as their records show, no inmate has been killed by another inside the jail.

Meanwhile, the family and supporters of Llaguno yesterday condemned the declaration of the Commission on Elections not to allow a family of the victim to replace his candidacy.

Llaguno’s family and supporters marched from the Osmeña Blvd. to the Comelec office to insist their plea to have Cary Llaguno, the elder brother of Cresistomo, take over his candidacy.

City Comelec officer Rudy Gilos said that as per Comelec regulations nobody can replace the candidacy of an independent candidate. But he said the family can file their petition before the Comelec in Manila.

Llaguno was shaking hands with the residents of Barangay Lorega-San Miguel last Tuesday when the suspect shot him.

Diala was allegedly ordered to kill Llaguno by a certain Rendo Chavez who threatened to kill him and his family if he refused to do it.

A case for murder was filed against the suspect. — THE FREEMAN