Rama not convinced Oybenes shot himself

CEBU, Philippines - Back from a vacation abroad, Mayor Michael Rama yesterday urged the police department to intensify their investigation into the tragic incident involving a barangay captain and City Hall employee.

Rama, in his command conference, said he has yet to be convinced that Mabini barangay captain Rey Oybenes committed suicide after he allegedly killed Division for the Welfare of Urban Poor employee Rohama Luague.

Since the two were affiliated with city government prior to their deaths, he assured that assistance due to a civil servant will be rendered to them.

The mayor, who visited the wake of Oybenes Sunday evening in Barangay Mabini. Rama also asked for a report on the shooting incident involving two policemen in barangay Guadalupe.

Cebu City Police Office is preparing to furnish the mayor a copy of their investigation results.

Cebu City Police Office acting director Mariano Natu-el said they still won't conclude that it was Oybenes who killed Luague and that the barangay captain then committed suicide in Sitio Tigbao, Barangay Talamban last Thursday.

"Nangita 'ta ron og asa dapit napusilan si Rohama, ug asa g'yud ang krimen nahitabo. That's crucial to the investigation," said Natu-el.

SPO1 Victor Ruel Ayuman, Homicide Section team leader, said they expect to get the result of the paraffin test, cross-matching examination and autopsy examination today.

"Masulbad ra g'yud nang mga misteryoha kung makuha na nato ang result aning tulo," said Ayuman.

The paraffin test, Ayuman said, will determine if Oybenes fired the gun recovered from the Toyota Hilux, where his body was found.

The cross-matching will determine if the bullet recovered from the Toyota Hilux matches with the bullet recovered from Luage's body and the autopsy, through powder burns, will eventually determine if Oybenes shot himself.

Ayuman said they learned that Oybenes rented an apartment in Sitio Tigbao.

He said they wanted to check the apartment for information relevant to the case, but Oybenes' wife, Jecebel, declined and asked to consult a lawyer first.

"Ningsugot na man unta 'to, then nausab na sad iyang hunahuna. Basin di na lang mi mamugos ana," Ayuman said.

Jecebel said though there was no valuable information or evidence at the apartment that might be related to the case, said Ayuman.

Natu-el said they will dig deeper into the investigation particularly why it took police several hours to open the vehicle and get Oybenes to the hospital. The family of the barangay captain thought he could have still been saved.

"1 p.m. nahitabo and the police arrived at 5 p.m. so they assumed na patay na g'yud. Second, naglikay sad sila na mag-tamper sa evidence. Ang SOCO na ma'y muingon na ablihan," Natu-el explained. —/BRP (FREEMAN)