Cops optimistic to solve Wee’s slay soon

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is optimistic that it will soon solve the killing of lawyer Joey Luis Wee.

Police Lt. Colonel Wilbert Parilla, CCPO Deputy Director for Operations, said they are currently at 70 percent as far as the development of their investigation is concerned.

Quoting the result of the third meeting of the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG), Parilla said they are 'optimistic' that the case will be closed in time.

"We are optimistic that we can solve this case considering that we have a good development in terms of the update on the Investigation of this case,"Parilla told reporters in a press conference yesterday.

Parilla, however, said that they will withhold further details of the development of the case pending the result of the investigation.

The CCPO had said it found four to five suspects behind the murder of Wee as shown in CCTV footage.

Investigators have reportedly seen more than four suspects within the one-kilometer distance from the crime scene. These suspects included those allegedly involved in the actual shooting, those who served as lookout and those who provided the getaway vehicle.

"We have already (suspects) but as of now we will not divulge any information yet because we are trying to improve and gather information with regards to this investigation," said Parilla.

Parilla also said that they are willing to share information on the development of their investigation with the National Bureau of Investigation should the NBI ask for it.

Moreover, he said that Wee's wife has yet to give a statement on the murder.

"We gave her questionaire but until now wala pa gihapon siya motubag sa atong questionaire na gihatag," he added.

The authorities are now also coordinating with the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU)-7 to enhance the CCTV footages that were retrieved as there were also several motorcycles seen that might have belonged to the suspects.

Wee was shot outside his office in Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City in the afternoon of November 23.

The police assured that even without the cooperation of the family, they will continue the investigation.

"Our city director has promised that we will not make this case a cold case again," said Parilla. — LPM (FREEMAN)