CEBU, Philippines — Barug-Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino- Laban (Barug PDP- Laban) will turn over today P300,000 to the Police Regional Office(PRO)- 7 as reward money to those who helped authorities in the case of the late Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo “Imok” Rupinta.
The money will be turned over at around 8 a.m., after the PRO-7’s flag ceremony.
Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera said Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella will be the one to give the money and this will be witnessed by everyone who will attend the flag ceremony.
“Coming up with the P300,000 is no joke. There are a lot of people who donated, like giving a little (until) such time we came up with the amount,” Garganera said.
He added that the main purpose of giving the money is to encourage the people and the witnesses to help the police during the case.
“During the incident of the ambush of Imok, we have no lead. So, we encouraged those who (have) knowledge (about) the case, those who witnessed the ambush to come out and help the police. That is why we put up the reward of P300,000 for them to be encouraged to help,” he said.
Garganera said that it should be the police who should handle and distribute the reward because they knew the people who had helped them and contributed to the case.
“It’s on the police’s decision on who would be the recipient of the reward. They are on top of the investigation so they know the personalities involved in building up the case,” he said.
Rupinta died in an ambush last November 23 on his way home to Liloan, Cebu. He was with his common-law-wife, Jocelyn Mendoza, during the incident.
Mendoza survived the ambush and served as the primary witness in identifying two of the gunmen, Jimmy Largo and Jordan Gera, who were later charged with murder.
The Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 welcomes the reward money that will be given by Rupinta’s political allies.
“If it can help solve the case, then why not? if ihatag na sa pulis, para sa kasulbaran, it’s very welcome,” said PRO-7 Spokesperson Reyman Tolentin.
However, he cautioned that if there are motives that will be painted on the turn-over of the cash, cops would have nothing to do with it, because law enforcers were only performing their duty.
“Pero kung naay laing motive ana, dili mi gusto moapil-apil ana. Kung para na sa ikasulbad sa kaso, nindot na, para makatabang. Nafile-an naman og kaso ang mga responsible, if naa sila ihatag ilaha na,” he said.
He reiterated that even without the reward money, cops would have the same desire to solve each case.
“Kami sa law enforcement, with or without reward money, it is our mandate, our bread and butter, to solve the case, to investigate the case. So, with or without reward, continue atong actionan. If naa, okay. If wala, okay ra pud,” he said.
PRO-7 Director Robert Quenery, in a text message, told The FREEMAN that the reward can motivate witnesses to come forward and help with the conduct of the investigation.
“The putting up of reward money in cases like this may motivate witnesses to cooperate in the successful solution of cases,” he said. — Ivory Pauline Escarro CNU Comm Intern (FREEMAN)