Police order probe on ‘destruction of evidence’

NEGROS Occidental Provincial Police Director Allan Guisihan ordered Wednesday an investigation on the reported “destruction” of evidence in the stabbing to death of the wife of an overseas Filipino worker in Barangay Paticui, Hinigaran town, last Monday morning.

Guisihan said a relative of the victim complained that the scene of crime was allegedly ordered “cleaned up” by the police investigator, even before records and documentation can be made by the Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco).

“We will have it investigated,” Guisihan said.

Guisihan said it is standard operating procedure for the police to preserve evidence until the Soco team has gathered all available evidence.

Ma. Theresa Vinco, 39, succumbed to at least nine stab wounds from an unidentified suspect who assaulted her in front of her two daughters, both minors.

Police reports revealed that the victim was awakened by the presence of an unidentified man who reportedly entered their residence through the unfinished roofing of their house. When she shouted for help, she was stabbed by the suspect until she died.

Guisihan said the relative of the victim, whose identity is being withheld for security reasons, reported that the police investigator from the Hinigaran police station allegedly ordered that the beddings be burned and the scene of the crime be cleaned up.

If the allegations are proven true, Guisihan assured that sanctions will be meted to the police investigator.

“Once you violate the procedure, you can be held accountable for it,” Guisihan said.

He added that the investigation of the crime will be passed on to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and will be taken away from the jurisdiction of the Hinigaran police.

Police investigations revealed that the victim was set to receive money from her husband who works in the United States. (Teresa D. Ellera)