Police probe hits snag

CEBU, Philippines - Police Regional Office-7 director Marcelo Garbo admitted having difficulty in probing whether or not the Canadian who went on a shooting rampage at the courtroom was killed by the responding policemen or committed a suicide.

This after John Pope’s family had his body cremated without it being subjected to an autopsy. Garbo said they are now pinning their hopes of resolving the matter on the witnesses who allegedly saw Pope shot himself in the head.

“Well it’s the right of the family and we have difficulty sa investigation pero we still have witness who saw Pope shot his head,” Garbo said.

Pope’s body was cremated last Friday upon the request of his family in Canada through the Canadian Embassy in Manila. The embassy sent a letter to Mario Esparica, branch manager of the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes, to have Pope’s body cremated.

The embassy also requested for the release of Pope’s body from the Cebu Doctor’s University Hospital and assured payment of his bills.

The ashes were given to Iris Adiong of Sagay City, Negros Occidental.

Garbo said he is now waiting for the final investigation report of the task force headed by Sr. Supt. Orlando Ualat as well as the forensic examination result on the cellular phone of Pope.

“We are waiting for breakthrough after we submitted the phone to the CIDG,” Garbo told The FREEMAN.

Pope went on a shooting rampage last week inside the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 6 where his case was supposed to be heard.

He shot dead Dr. Rene Rafols and Atty. Jubian Achas. Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Ma. Theresa Casiño was also injured and remains in the hospital.

Two policemen fired at Pope allegedly to immobilize him. But the suspect reportedly shot himself in the head. (FREEMAN)