CCPO rules out foul play on cops’ deaths

CEBU, Philippines - The top official of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has ruled out the possibility of foul play in the death of two policemen who reportedly killed each other in Barangay Guadalupe recently.

CCPO acting director Mariano Natu-el said they will submit their findings to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that is conducting parallel investigation on the alleged shootout between Police Officers 1 Anthony Gonzales and Rey Gabutan.

“Through the ballistic test, na-find out nato nga sila ra g’yud duha ang nagpinusilay,” said Natuel in an interview with The FREEMAN.

The ballistics test result, Natu-el said, showed that the slugs recovered from the crime scene and from the head of Gabutan were fired from the cal. 45 pistol used by Gonzales.

Right now, Natu-el said they are just waiting for the result of NBI’s investigation which may confirm their own findings.

Initially though, Natu-el said the police and the NBI already had the same findings on the facts surrounding the incident including the consistent testimonies of four witnesses, including two policemen.

The CCPO acting director said they are keeping in touch with the NBI whose help was sought by the family of Gonzales. Natu-el shared that he met Gonzales’ father, Victorio, at the CCPO headquarters and told him that they are not “whitewashing” the case.

“Ako gisultian ang papa ni Gonzales nga wala ta’y giapas maong niingon ta nga wala’y foul play. We have nothing to gain,” he said, saying that Victorio Gonzales appeared to have understood this.

The CCPO head, though, appreciated the elder Gonzales’s move of seeking the help of other investigating body.

“Mas maayo hinuon ‘na nga niduol sila sa NBI to erase doubts,” expressed Natu-el.

Natu-el said further that the families of both policemen may not receive benefits because they did not die on line of duty.

Gabutan, 30, and Gonzales, 29, will be laid to rest on Tuesday.

Gabutan and Gonzales, who were fourth-degree cousins and were close friends since childhood, reportedly shot each other during a heated argument inside a friend’s house in Barangay Guadalupe last March 23.  (FREEMAN)