Police chief says there's proof: Digal: No apology to Mayor Ramirez

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Erson Digal will not apologize to Medellin town Mayor Ricardo Ramirez, who he tagged as the prime suspect in the death of Edelberto “Delbi” Abao last week.

Digal said there is no need for him to apologize to Ramirez since they have strong evidence as well as affidavits supporting them at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 pointing to Ramirez as the suspect.

“No need to make an apology. What is the apology for? I say he’s a suspect but I did not say he is guilty,” Digal said.

He also said that he will ask assistance from the Police Regional Office director if Ramirez will withdraw his logistic support to the police.

“Being the mayor naa ra niya if dili na siya mo-support sa PNP if he thinks that’s the best sa lumulupyo sa Medellin kay the money spent came from the taxes of the residents,” he said.

Ramirez told reporters during his press conference that he will file an administrative case and a criminal complaint against Digal.

The word war between the two officials started when Ramirez broke his silence over the accusations that linked him to the death of Abao, who was the head of the Mayor’s Squad at the mayor’s office.

   Abao was sustained a wound on his right leg on the afternoon of December 27 and was rushed to the Severo Verallo Hospital in Bogo where he later died after surgery.

   The death certificate, which was released days after due to the outstanding bills of the victim, states that he died of diabetes and hypertension.

   However, Digal will not have a hand in filing of the charges as the CIDG 7 will be handling the case.

   CIDG 7 deputy chief, Flabiano Baltazar told The Freeman that one of the relatives of the victim allegedly went to their detachment office in Bogo City and requested for assistance in the investigation.

   “That was the information I received but the investigation is not yet done so we have to wait for it,” he said.

   Digal denied allegations that he was not able to inform Ramirez regarding the relief of Senior Inspector Bonifacio Arriesgado, former chief of the Medellin town police. He also said that he did not fail to inform Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia about the incident, but just could not do so, immediately, as she was out of the country.

   “I called Ramirez that Arriesgado will be relieved for the investigation, which he agreed and how can I inform the governor, when she was out of the country during the incident,” Digal said.

GWEN KEEPS MUM

   Governor Garcia has kept mum on the incident and said that Capitol spokesperson Rory Jon Sepulveda has already stated her position.

“That’s a police matter and I do not think any comments whatsoever or statement for that matter would help in the investigation of this case. I would rather leave that matter to the police,” Garcia told reporters yesterday.

Garcia learned about the incident when she came back from her vacation abroad in the evening of December 31.

She was made aware of a lot of statements that have been swirling around, which she believes would not help.

“I do believe that when a matter under investigation we should be more circumspect in our statements,” Garcia said.

While she is not commenting the case per see, Garcia said as governor she will have to see to it that peace and order will not be compromised at the local government level considering that Ramirez has threatened to pull out his support to the police force. — with Gregg M. Rubio/NLQ (FREEMAN)