CEBU, Philippines — The firearm Police Sgt. Celso Colita “used” to kill himself was not the same as the one used in the murder of police abuse complainant Ritchie Nepomuceno, result of the ballistic examination showed.
“We already have the result and it turned out that the firearm used in shooting Nepumoceno and the one used by Colita during his suicide have different characteristics,” Cebu City Police Office Director Colonel Josefino Ligan told reporters on Tuesday.
“Dili siya parehas (It’s different),” Ligan said.
Because of this, police are bent on eliminating Colita’s name in the list of persons of interest behind Nepumoceno’s murder.
“So kato nga ebidensya, scientific evidence, mo-corraborate unta sa pagkaperson of interest ni Colita. Medyo na-eliminate na siya slight sa pagka-person of interest,” said Ligan.
The CCPO chief also said that the result also clears whatever alleged connection between the deaths of Colita and Nepomuceno.
To recall, Colita was found to have left the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 camp for a medical check-up on April 19 despite having an order of camp restriction pending his criminal and administrative investigation.
Based on the entry in the PRO-7 logbook seen by members of the media, Colita was escorted by a certain Police Corporal Christopher Lorete. He returned to the camp at around 6 p.m. that day or minutes after Nepumoceno was shot dead in Basak, Cebu City.
Colita would later be found dead that night with gunshot wounds inside a comfort room at the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU)-7.
Nepumoceno had accused Colita of raping him twice in the motel. She also accused 12 other police personnel of Sawang Calero Police Station of extortion.
Nepomuceno’s allegations came after the Sawang policemen served a search warrant for illegal possession of firearms at her house in Minglanilla, an operation that turned out negative.
In the meantime, Lorete and the RDEU chief are also being placed under investigation.
Ligan said the case investigator is currently getting statements from Nepumoceno’s husband as police continue to pursue the angle on Nepomuceno’s possible illegal drug involvement. A love triangle motive is also not being discounted.
“Cooperative ra man siya (Nepumoceno’s husband), so far, mao ganing nihatag siya sa iyang statement pero i-adto ra gihapon na siya sa fiscal aron ma-subscribe (under oath ang statement),” said Ligan.
Colita’s wife speaks up
Meanwhile, Colita’s wife, who requested not be named, described her husband as a good provider to the family. She also said Colita had done a lot for the community.
She said the family has not received any form of assistance, financial or otherwise, from anyone after her husband’s death.
When asked if they were able to talk with Colita prior his death, she answered “everyday,” and did not further elaborate. Colita, she said, had always been a positive person.
“Para nako, akong bana, never gyud kong motuo nga na-involve siya ana, kay makita man jud sa among pagpuyo, dili mi dato, makakaon lang mi katulo sa usa ka adlaw, makapalit lang mi sa among gikinahanglan, pero never gyud na. Wa man gali mi kwarta, magkautang-utang man gani mi,” the wife said.
On Nepumoceno’s extortion and rape complaints, she said that it would be impossible for Colita to commit these since he was a family man.
When asked if they believe the narrative that Colita, indeed, committed suicide, the wife refused to comment since, according to her, she was not there when it happened.
Colita’s wife also said that if the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7 would offer a separate investigation on Colita’s death, they would “appreciate” the gesture.
“Autopsy, paraffin test, wala pa na kuan (sulod) sa akong hunahuna kay naglisod man gani mig budget para sa iyang haya. If paraffin test or autopsy, maglisod na pud mi ana kay wala jud mi kwarta na,” she added.
Furthermore, Colita’s wife appealed to the PRO-7 heads to consider the provision of cash assistance to their family now that their provider is gone. — JMD (FREEMAN)