Probers face difficulty

CEBU, Philippines - The Police Regional Office-7 director has admitted that they are having difficulty identifying the people responsible for the shooting to death of two Moalboal policemen during an anti-drug operation more than a week ago.

Chief Superintendent Prudencio Bañas said that until now no single witness has come forward to cooperate in the investigation. Bañas said it might take them some time to be able to solve the case and serve justice to the family of the late Police Officer  3 Fabio Fernandez and Police Officer 1 Alrasid Jimlani.

“Sa totoo lang medyo malayo pa tayo,” Bañas said.

Fernandez and Jimlani were part of the raiding team that served a search warrant against suspected drug den operator Michael Aquino in Barangay Tomonoy, Moalboal last November 14.

The two were assigned as perimeter security while the rest of the members of the raiding team were inside the alleged drug den conducting an inventory when they were shot dead by still unidentified people.

Without witnesses who could identify the culprits, Bañas said the case may only be solved “If there are witnesses that could pinpoint or could tell us the identity or give us description of the suspects.”

Superintendent Rodolfo Albotra, chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch and Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Branch, said his offices are conducting continuous operations to identify the culprits.

Albotra said that they already have leads but they are very cautious in their actions because police officers were involved.

He explained that they have to be sure before making any arrest.

“We’re conducting continuous operation. We have leads, ato pa ning gisubay-subay gyud. We are very careful on this one considering police officers ang na-involve and we will not be doing hasty moves ani. Ang ato lang is to make sure that the people arrested are those people responsible for the death of the police officers,” Albotra said.

Albotra assured that the people responsible are still in Cebu. (FREEMAN)