For not filing Arson raps Tabogon Police Chief, investigator under investigation

CEBU, Philippines - Tabogon Police Chief Insp. Herbert Hibaya and PO3 Gregorio Licayan, police investigator, are facing accusations of irresponsibility for allegedly failing to assist an arson victim in the filing of a case against the suspect in Barangay Muabog, Tabogon last month.

Razel Buot, 38 and resident of the said place, went to the Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Branch yesterday and accused Hibaya and Licayan of ignoring the filing of the arson case in court against Ronald Inahid, of legal age and Buot’s neighbor.

Buot alleged that her house was burned last May 6, allegedly by Inahid, but the case was just filed in court last week with the help of a concerned citizen and not by the Tabogon police.

In an interview, Buot claimed she had been asking the police when she could file the case but was told to wait.

“Sige ra man sila ug ingon nga gihimo pa ang affidavit, usa na ka buwan wala lang gihapon,(They just keep saying that they are still making the affidavit but a month has passed and it still isn’t finished.)” she said.

Buot said it was Licayan who delayed the filing of the case saying the validity of the filing of the case would expire after 20 years.

“Ingon pa gyud siya nga dili sayon mamunit ug English, i-relax pa kuno niya iyang utok,(He even said it is not easy to write in English and he still has to relax his brain.)” Buot said.

Buot decided to inform Hibaya on the matter and was assured of an investigation at the scene to come with concrete evidence to strengthen the case against Inahid but days passed and Hibaya reportedly did not show up.

In a separate interview, Licayan and Hibaya denied the allegations and reiterated that they were looking for concrete evidence since they were just relying on circumstantial evidence.

Hibaya said he took charred debris from the house and submitted it to the Bogo City Fire Station to determine the cause of fire to support the affidavit.

“It’s our prerogative on how to deal with people. Malipay ko naa sa PIDMB nila gisumbong aron makita asa gasugod ang istorya,(I’m glad they reported it to the PIDMB so that we will see where it all started.)” Hibaya said in a phone interview.

Licayan told The FREEMAN its better that the problem will be settled in a proper forum.

“Kami pud ang mauwawan sa fiscal nga inig file namo i-uli, unya ila ma’ng gipadangat sa radyo halos usa ka-semana mi gilabhan,(We will be the ones who will be embarrassed at the prosecutor’s office when they return it upon filing. The complainant raised her concern to the radio and nearly a week we have been subject to commentaries.)” Licayan said.

Atty. Julius Ompad, legal counsel of the PIDMB, said if both cops are found liable of the incident, both will face charges for serious neglect of duty.

Both parties were requested to appear at the PIDMB on June 13 for a clarificatory hearing. — (FREEMAN)