Malabon cops fail to prevent murder

Northern Police District (NPD) director Chief Superintendent Jose Bandong, Jr. yesterday scolded investigators of the Malabon police who allegedly turned away a man who went to their office to file a complaint of grave threats against his neighbor and was later killed Thursday night.

Bandong, in a radio interview, said he had ordered an investigation into the alleged negligence of the Malabon police station investigation division while at the same time vowing to provide assistance to the family of slain ex-convict Ronaldo Panganiban, 37, resident of 15-25 A. Martin St., Tugatog, Malabon.

On the carpet are SPO1 George Gubatan, PO3 Reynaldo Gabatin, Malabon police officer-in-charge Superintendent Eduardo Bigay and SID chief Senior Inspector Napoleon Bataycan.

The probe stems from the murder of Panganiban who was allegedly shot dead by Jonathan dela Cruz, his next door neighbor, at around 9:45 p.m. outside his house.

Before the incident, Panganiban went to the Malabon police to file a complaint against Dela Cruz who reportedly poked his gun at him for no reason at all while he was walking home.

However, investigators allegedly referred him to his barangay office saying it was a "barangay case."

Learning that Panganiban reported the incident to the police, Dela Cruz allegedly waited for the victim outside his house, and after a heated confrontation, shot him dead.

Police failed to apprehend Dela Cruz in subsequent manhunt operations.

Bandong said the police investigators could have averted the shooting of Panganiban if the policemen provided assistance upon complaint of the victim.

Bandong assured the victim's widow, Anita, that the NPD will give her assistance and investigate the matter thoroughly.

However, SID operatives denied that they turned away Panganiban when he went to the Malabon police station to file his complaint.

The investigators said the victim acted strangely at the police station and refused to come inside the SID office to give his statement, insisting on staying on board a barangay van. The van later drove off with Panganiban not filing his complaint, they said.