Abra murder suspect yields to NBI

MANILA, Philippines - The principal suspect in the killing of a municipal councilor in Abra last May 19 gave himself up to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last week to clear his name in the crime.

The suspect, Jomie Cabrera, said he could not have killed his own uncle, Tineg councilor Pedro Enon, alleging that the local police merely hatched the murder case against him to harass him since he is the star witness in the 2007 slaying of Brenda Crisologo, wife of incumbent Tineg Mayor Edwin Crisologo.

Cabrera said the murder charges against him were based on a police investigation report, which Enon’s family does not even believe.

“The (Enon) family doubts the veracity of the testimonies of the witnesses produced by the police who pointed to me as the gunman,” he said.

Abra policemen, he alleged, “(are) determined to jail me and put me under their custody. I fear that something will happen to me while under their custody.”

For her part, Enon’s widow Elesita, a Tineg councilor, said the Abra police made a report based only on the statements of two supposed witnesses, Jaworsky Ayaba and Jenny Calawagan, who pointed to Cabrera as the alleged killer.

“I never filed a complaint with the police against Jomie Cabrera for the death of my husband since I firmly believe and know that he is not capable of killing my husband,” she said.

Mrs. Enon slammed the Abra police for not bothering “to conduct a thorough investigation of my husband’s death despite our repeated demands, even up to the level of then PNP chief Avelino Razon.”

“It was deemed that a thorough investigation was necessary so as not to make Jomie Cabrera a fall guy just to suit the plans of certain powerful politicians in our province who are at odds with Mayor Edwin Crisologo Sr. of Tineg, my late husband’s political ally and Jomie’s uncle,” she added.

She alleged that there was “undue haste” in the filing of the case against Cabrera, with the investigating prosecutor failing to acknowledge his counter-affidavit and witnesses.

“His right to due process was definitely disregarded by both the prosecution and the police,” she said.

Mrs. Enon said it is now important “to protect the life” of Cabrera, as he is a star witness in the killing of Mrs. Crisologo in Bangued, the capital town of Abra, on May 17, 2007.

Senior Superintendent Alex Pumecha, former Abra police director and now the intelligence chief of the Cordillera police, laughed off the allegations of Mrs. Enon and Cabrera.

“The murder case against Cabrera was based on the investigation of the Bangued police which has two witnesses pointing to Cabrera as the killer of Councilor Enon,” he said.

“The court has already taken jurisdiction over the case so I have nothing more to say,” he said.

Pumecha said Cabrera’s surrender would allow “the truth to come out.”

Cabrera surrendered last Thursday to NBI lawyer Rachel Marfil Angeles.– With Sandy Araneta