Daughter to PNP: We want the truth

CEBU, Philippines — “We seek nothing more, but the truth” was the message of Christine Claire Bontuyan to the Philippine National Police as her father, slain Police Captain Delfin Bontuyan, was laid to rest yesterday.

In the eulogy, Christine honored the memory of her father and called out on the police force to give them “the truth.”

“As I went through my father’s clothes, I found his CIDG shirt. In the logo, it said, ‘we seek the truth.’ To the Philippine National Police, there is precisely nothing more than what we seek at this point than that: the truth,” Christine said.

This was the first time that Christine has openly commented about her father’s death. Earlier, Christine limited her statements to describing her father as policeman and as a person.

She said during the eulogy at the San Isidro Labrador Parish that her father has been a dedicated policeman, who even went after his own family member just to enforce the law.

“You worked tirelessly not just to provide for your family, but because you loved what you did: fighting for the innocent and making sure those who violated the law will be held accountable for their acts,” she said.

Christine narrated that her father was still a fighter even at the end. Delfin who sustained 11 gunshots, four to his head and seven to the different parts of his body, was shot from behind.

She also lashed at her father’s attackers describing them as “cowards and failures” for having to outnumber and attack Delfin from behind.

“You are cowards and failures, you should be ashamed of yourselves. Papa, until the end I know you fought and even in death, you never failed to make me and everyone else still proud,” she said.

Christine promised to her father, that as a lawyer in the making, she will not let his death be a mere number or a forgotten case.

“You have given justice; now, you will be the one receiving justice,” she said.

He was in service since 1988 until 2019, and was set to retire this year after a mandatory age of retirement at 56. He was 55, when he died.

When Delfin was supposed to retire, Christine was also scheduled to graduate from law.

Delfin, who was laid to rest at the Angelicum Garden of Angels in Canduman Mandaue City, received a 21-gun salute from the Philippine National Police.

He was killed at the North Reclamation Area by motorcycle-riding assailants who shot him during a red light last May 21.

The Mabolo Police Station has submitted the SD card from the dash cameras of the taxi cabs in the crime scene for enhancement in order to determine the identity of the assailants. — GAN (FREEMAN)