Missing cop? Skeletal remains found in Badian

CEBU, Philippines - Skeletal remains believed to be those of a police officer who was reported missing since February last year were found Sunday morning in the mountain barangay of Santicon, Badian.

An identification card bearing the name of Police Officer 1 Jimmy Jorge, of Manlapay, Dalaguete, was found near the remains. Jorge has been missing since last year.

He was assigned at the Mobile Patrol Group of the Cebu City Police Office but did not report to his assignment since February 14, 2014.

Senior Police Officer 2 Jeremias Elardo, desk officer of Badian Police Station, said Tanny Carticiano and his son, Jade, found the skeletal remains in the woods while gathering firewood last Sunday morning.

A belt bag containing the firearm license card, ATM card, and driver’s license of the missing policeman was found next to the skeletal remains.

Scene of the Crime Operatives had conducted yesterday forensic examinations on the remains. Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, chief of the police’s Regional Directorial Staff, said forensic examinations are needed to determine whether the remains were indeed those of the missing cop.

Lawas said an investigation should also be done to determine the circumstances of the death.

Superintendent Renato Dugan, chief of the Regional Personnel and Human Resources Development Division, said that Jorge was admitted to the police force in 2007.

His assignments include the Tourist Police Unit. He was also a former aide of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama. He was transferred to the Mobile Patrol Group on February 14, 2014 but did not anymore show up.

Several notices were sent to Jorge until a case for absence without official leave was filed against him. He was then found administratively guilty.

He was recommended to be discharged from the rolls of the PNP in August last year with forfeiture of all his benefits.

Dugan said that if the investigation would find out that he was killed in the line of duty, his benefits could still be given. Although, Dugan said the process is long and tedious. (FREEMAN)