Cops told to stop “leaking” of info

CEBU, Philippines - Davao City Police Office director Vicente Danao Jr. reportedly blew his top yesterday and threatened to withhold all investigation reports after classified police information on the killing of Cebu-based hotelier Richard King was apparently made available to the media, a newspaper in Davao reported.

According to The Edge Newspaper Davao, Danao got angry with the personnel of the Investigation and Detection Management Branch responsible for the so-called “leaks” after sensitive information in the investigation reached the media last Saturday.

Danao reportedly scolded the IDMB staff because they posted the progress report in the media folder outside their office where the names of the “persons of interest” in the killing were revealed.

He complained why the media was able to get the report while his office was not yet informed with it.

According to a report in another Davao newspaper, a certain person with a physical injury case has been considered as a person of interest as they received information that he has a personal grudge against King.

The same report revealed that the police are also investigating another person of interest who can bring light to the case.

Danao said the media should not have released the report yet as it might hamper their investigation.

Chief  Inspector Leonardo Pamplona, IDMB deputy chief, explained to Danao that it is already a standard practice that spot and progress reports are posted in the media lounge, but Danao insisted that King case was too sensitive for standard treatment.

King, chairman and chief executive officer of J. King & Sons Co. Inc., and developer of Crown Regency, Club Ultima and the City Suites Ramos Tower, was shot dead by a lone assailant while he was having a meal with his employees at the Vital C building in Barangay Obrero, Davao City.

Danao said the Special Investigation Task Group Richard King met yesterday morning where copies of the facial composite of the assailant were given to task group members, it is not yet available to the media.

In Cebu City, Senior Superintendent Ritchie Posadas, CIDG-7 chief, said they are closely coordinating with Davao City Police Office and after the incident they sent King’s profile to DCPO.

He ordered Superintendent Fermin Armendarez III, deputy chief, and Inspector Delfin Bontuyan to coordinate with King’s relatives and friends to check if the businessman received death threats before.

Posadas also said that he welcomed the idea of putting up a P500,000 reward money “to motivate other witnesses to help police” identify the assailant and the ones behind the killing.

No reward

If Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama could have his way, he will not raise a monetary reward for informants in the murder.

“I have reservations on that. Suhol ra ‘na, and if  dili madakpan magsige ra ka og increase,” said Rama, referring to the P500,000 award raised by Davao City Ma-yor Rodrigo Duterte and the King family.

Rama, who was expec-ted to visit the wake of King last night at Saint Peter Funeral Parlor in Cebu City, said he will talk about the matter with the family.

“Here in Cebu City, we don’t encourage that. Tan-awon ‘na nato kung kinsa ang gahatag ana nga reward or anything. I-discuss ‘na nato with the family,” added Rama.

The King family earlier put up an initial P200,000 reward and Duterte offered to provide the rest of the cash bounty for information leading to the arrest of the assailant.

Yesterday morning, Rama was in Manila for an official business, where he also talked with the chief of the Philippine National Police, Alan Purisima.

“They need to be faster and sure. He (King) is our constituent, and I know him so well,” said Rama.

Aside from being a friend, King has contributed a lot to making Cebu an attractive and tourist-attractive city, said Rama. The towering Crown Regency Hotel and Ultima Residences are just among the “iconic” contributions of  King, Rama added.

Rama said he will remember King much more with the chandelier that the businessman donated for the main lobby of the Legislative Building in City Hall.

“He is a risk-taker and in terms of enhancement, he really set the bar,” said Rama, “di g’yud ko makalimot niya,” he added.  (FREEMAN)