Task force Tabanao pressured for answers

CEBU, Philippines - A police official admitted the great amount of pressure they are dealing with amid the assurance that they are exhausting all efforts to pinpoint the mastermind of the killing of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 agent Jessie Tabanao.

 "Grabe ang pressure sa pulis, mostly from the media, as the people are expecting that we can deliver and give updates every day, so lisod," said Supt. Carmelo Dayon, assistant head of the Special Investigation Task Group Tabanao.

Despite the pressure, however, Dayon said they will not rush their investigation just to satisfy everybody.

"Di man gud ni salida na makahibaw ta na mahuman ra in two hours. So we will make a quality investigation to arrive at a very strong prosecution later on. (This is not a movie where we know that we will finish within two hours. So we will make a quality investigation to arrive at a very strong prosecution later on)," Dayon stressed.

Even the task force head, Cebu City Police Office director Noli Romana, told the investigators to "just do their thing" and not "sacrifice the quality" of the investigation, Dayon added.

The task force is comprised of personnel from the Investigation and Detective Management Branch led by Chief Insp. Aileen Recla, City Intelligence Branch led by Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, Homicide Section led by Insp. Manuel Cañete, and Fuente Police Station led by Chief Insp. David Señor.

Dayon, also the deputy city director for operations, said they are still eyeing Tabanao's job as a PDEA agent as the motive behind the attack and that a syndicate of drug lords as the mastermind behind the killing.

The CCPO official admitted that they are having a hard time identifying the gunman since they don't have enough witnesses.

For now, they have one witness who saw the gunman shoot Tabanao to death before speeding off with his motorcycle. But the witness failed to identify the assailant since his face was covered with a helmet. The witness also was not able to see the plate number of the suspect’s motorcycle.

"Kani siya, kung mu-kooperar lang g'yud ang naay nahibaw-an, sayon ra man ni. (If those who knows something would just cooperate, this would be easy)," Dayon pointed out.

The task force, with the help of the Anti-Cybercrime Group, is still checking the contents Tabanao’s mobile phones, where they could possibly get substantial information.

Nevertheless, Dayon assured that in time, they will be able to pin down Tabanao's killers.

Tabanao, who was a reporter of Bombo Radyo Cebu for eight years before entering PDEA, was gunned down at Escario St. late Saturday night. He died immediately of five gunshot wounds.

He left behind his eight-month pregnant wife Katrina, also a former journalist, and a seven-year-old son.

His remains is now in his hometown in Moalboal and will be laid to rest on September 26.

Meanwhile, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma expressed his grief with the death of Tabanao.

 "We are saddened to know of what had happened to him. We recognize your contribution as media for a better place to live in and making people believe that the media helps in pointing out possible solutions to issues," Palma said.

He also expressed sympathy to the family of Tabanao and hopes that the latter will be given justice.

Further, Palma called out to authorities to look harder into the drug problem hounding the city.

"We are aware that this (illegal drugs) is a more complex issue in the society. Let's just hope that both authorities concerned will truly realize that this has to stop," Palma said.  (FREEMAN)