Family criticizes laggard, uncoordinated manner of investigation

CALBAYOG CITY, Philippines — The family of slain Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy, criticized the allegedly sluggish investigation on the case despite a number of investigating bodies involved.

Uy's eldest daughter Jessica Uy-Delgado, during a press conference held at the Calbayog Sports Complex the other day, said the police and the CIDG Task Force Uy failed to inform her family on the progress of the probe on her father’s death.

"The funniest thing is that you would see the development of our dad’s case in every newspaper in the town including the TV news programs of different networks nationwide, but we are always the last people to know," Delgado said.          

Delgado said her family was even surprised to see that one of the investigating agencies last May 4 released artist's sketches of two suspects, and had these posted on the walls of buildings around Calbayog, Tacloban City and other towns in Samar province.

"The sketches were even published in local and national newspapers, but the probe bodies did not even consider paying us a visit first and share with us the initial results of their investigation before going to the media and start earning 'pogi points' for President Aquino who visited the wake of our dad last May 5," said Delgado.

Delgado said the investigators never showed the suspects' sketches to the family. "The sketches were even doubtful, if you’ll ask me, because according to a high ranking official they were not the assailants but people who could only provide the information," she said.

The mayor's daughter also said that the investigating agencies, after two weeks of work, had not arrived at leads or pinpointed the suspected attackers, adding that the lives of the family are "still hanging by a thread."

She said: "We are being followed by motorcycles here in Calbayog and in Manila. What are we supposed to do if another attack follows. We are defenseless. We have no protection because of the implemented gun ban ordered by the president himself. We are left with nothing while some politicians control some of the military and police officers here in Samar."

Uy was gunned down last April 30 while attending an activity for a fiesta celebration in Hinabangan town of Samar. Wounded by the gunman was Provincial Board Member Eunice Babalcon who was sitting beside the mayor at the time.

With the death of Uy, Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino has taken over as mayor of the city while 1st councilor Jim Uy, the slain mayor's son, was named vice mayor. —  THE FREEMAN