Probers into lawyer's slay convene

CEBU, Philippines —  The Special Investigation Task Group of the Cebu City Police Office is set to convene today to give update on the killing of human rights lawyer Rex Fernandez.

Fernandez was ambushed on August 26 by still unknown gunman along R. Duterte corner Good Shepherd Streets, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

CCPO deputy director for operations, Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, said they will know the development of the investigation once the SITG-Fernandez convenes.

"The station concern (Guadalupe Police Station) has an ongoing investigation as I have said, the official update will be released after the SITG has convened, which is tomorrow," said Parilla on Monday.

According to Parilla, they will be assigning officers to handle in every angle that their investigation will pursue.

He however clarified that they have now updates on the investigation as the family of Fernandez had already coordinated with them.

Meanwhile, on the investigation of the killing of radio blocktimer Rey Cortez, Parilla said that even with the formation of the SITG, they do not have any development yet.

"Maybe we can have our last SITG meeting this week also, and then, it will decide kung unsa nay buhaton since medyo taas-taas na sad ang panahon and then there is no update yet on that case," said Parilla.

Parilla said that this is also because the witnesses they gathered could only testify according to what they heard and not with what they saw.

"Tanan ilang masulti igo ra jud nadungog, wala jud tay eye-witness," he said.

The SITG-Cortes was launched by the CCPO to probe who's behind the broadcaster’s death after he was shot dead shortly after his morning program in DYRB in Mambaling, Cebu City on July 22, 2021. — GMR (FREEMAN)