PNP asked to return Borlongan’s belongings

The family of former Urban Bank president Teodoro Borlongan asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday to return the gun and other personal effects retrieved from his possession when he committed suicide in Marikina City last April 11.

Borlongan’s counsel and sister-in-law, lawyer Elena Enriquez, said the family is convinced that the victim indeed committed suicide and that "no crime has been committed."

"On behalf of the family, I respectfully request for the release of the personal effects of Teodoro Borlongan, particularly but not limited to his firearm and the original handwritten note that was found next to his body," said Enriquez in her one-page letter to Chief Superintendent Ernesto Belen, chief of the PNP Crime Laboratory.

Enriquez is hoping that the PNP would act favorably on the Borlongan family’s request.

The handgun, a caliber .45 Glock automatic pistol, is under the custody of the Crime Laboratory while the suicide note is in the possession of the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) of the Eastern Police District (EPD).

Belen said he will coordinate with Chief Superintendent Marcelo Ele, head of the PNP’s directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM), whether to grant the request or not.

Aside from the caliber .45 handgun, Borlongan also had three other firearms licensed under his name.

Records from the PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Division (FED) showed that Borlongan, a gun enthusiast, owns another caliber .45 Para Ordnance, a caliber .9mm Sig Sauer pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun.

The firearms’ license expired last April 15, Borlongan’s 50th birthday.

The caliber .45 Glock pistol used by Borlongan in ending his life was duly licensed.

Though all evidence points to suicide as the cause of Borlongan’s death, Marikina City police chief, Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr. has not yet declared the incident "case closed."

"We are awaiting for the formal report of the EPD-SOCO on the incident," he said. — Non Alquitran