Cops ‘may not’ subpoena Abad’s bf

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has detracted its warning to subpoena the boyfriend of Ecstasy overdose victim Ashley Abad.

In a sudden change of tune, Senior Superintendent Royina Garma, director of CCPO, said that “they may or may not request” the subpoena powers granted to PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde.

However, in a press conference on Monday, Garma along with Police Regional Office-7 Director Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, gave an ultimatum to Neil Spencer Tiu, the boyfriend of Abad, who was also with her when she collapsed during a party last January 19.

Sinas, in a separate interview, was mum about the matter, and opted to have Garma talk about the issue as CPPO commander.

Last Monday, Tiu’s legal counsel Orlando Salatandre reportedly went to CCPO to address the ultimatum and said in a separate report that they will wait for the official charges to be filed before Tiu appears before police investigators.

“Maghintay kayo,” he told reporters, “we are not to disclose our moves. May ginagawa kami, our role is to investigate any court-related move, hindi sa amin.”

Abad’s case blew up following a directive from President Rodrigo Duterte to arrest Tiu, after Abad’s family sought a meeting with Duterte.

However, Garma downplayed the directive, having worked closely with Duterte in Davao City before. She said that Duterte merely wanted to tell policemen to work closely on the case.

As of the moment, police have already met with at least four of Abad’s friends to help in the investigation.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 will also step in to help the PNP trace the source of the drug. Abad’s histopathology, performed in Luzon, showed she died of an Ecstasy overdose. — BRP (FREEMAN)