MANILA, Philippines - The chief of police of Tanza town was relieved yesterday in connection with the shooting death of Remate tabloid reporter Rubylita Garcia in Bacoor, Cavite on Sunday.
Chief Superintendent Jesus Gatchalian, Calabarzon police director, said he ordered Superintendent Conrado Villanueva’s administrative relief pending an investigation into the killing.
“Villanueva’s name was mentioned by Garcia to her son while she was still alive. The policy was to relieve Villanueva, so that he could not manipulate or influence the investigation,†he said.
It was also reported on the website of Remate that Garcia managed to tell her son after she was gunned down that Villanueva is the brains behind the attack against her.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), however, clarified that Villanueva is not yet considered a suspect but merely part of the investigation.
Cavite deputy provincial director Superintendent Joseph Javier replaced Villanueva.
Altercation
Garcia reportedly had an altercation with Villanueva when she and two fellow reporters visited the Tanza police station last Wednesday.
Villanueva vehemently denied the allegation, saying he does not know Garcia and he had no reason to order her killing.
But he admitted that he met Garcia and two other reporters in his office at around 2 p.m. on April 2 while he was meeting with members of the Muslim community.
Villanueva said it seemed Garcia got mad at him for making them wait and may have overheard him saying he did not know her.
He said Garcia confronted him after his meeting and told him that it was “impossible†for him not to know her.
He said he was surprised why Garcia was angry with him, but he did not argue with her and only told her that he could not recall having met her, when she insisted that they have long known each other.
Task Force Ruby
Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, director of the PNP-Public Information Office, announced that a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) has been created to investigate the case.
He said SITG Ruby is the lead investigation body that will look into the circumstances surrounding the slay case.
“SITG Ruby will coordinate all investigative efforts of the PNP units,†said Sindac.
Among the PNP units working under SITG are Provincial Criminal Investigation Detection Team, Provincial Highway Patrol Team, Regional Intelligence Office and Scene Of Crime Operations.
The PNP also activated Task Force Usig even as PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima directed Gatchalian to solve Garcia’s case “as soon as possible.â€
“We wanted Garcia’s killing to be solved the soonest possible time as her case involved international repercussions,†said Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas Jr., the PNP’s deputy director for administration.
He said Gatchalian would take the lead in the probe while Task Force Usig, a special police unit tasked to probe attacks on journalists, would render all necessary assistance.
Purisima earlier ordered Task Force Usig to determine if the handgun used in the killing of Garcia was also used in other criminal activities.
Gatchalian said investigators are eyeing work-related and personal grudge as among the motives behind Garcia’s killing.
“We have already a vital lead in Garcia’s murder, but we are still digging... before we file a case against the culprits,†he said.
Suspect’s sketch
The police released the sketch of one of the gunmen yesterday.
Senior Superintendent Joselito Esquivel Jr., Cavite police director, said a lone witness described the gunman as male, around 30 years old, six feet tall, medium built and with fair complexion and tattoo in the arms.
Probers believe Garcia’s killers were guns for hire. A team was sent to a barangay in Bacoor City to hunt for the suspects. – With Non Alquitran, Arnell Ozaeta, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Jose Rodel Clapano