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Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Police officials cry foul over info of ‘tipster’
Top police officials, including PNP Chief Arturo Lomibao, yesterday urged the informant of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City Chapter to come out in the open and identify the senior police official who is allegedly supporting the vigilante-style killings in Cebu City.
Lomibao, who was in Cebu yesterday to lead the celebration of the 15th Philippine National Police (PNP) anniversary at Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr., and Police Regional Office 7 Director Eduardo Gador said the statement of lawyer Alex Tolentino, IBP-Cebu City chapter president “was very sweeping and unfair” to the police organization.
“If the claim of the informant is true, we will ask him to come out in the open. It would be a very sweeping generalization if they would say that officials in the police are involved,” Lomibao said in a press conference.
Show proof
Gador, on the other hand, said the IBP has the right to ask for his relief as well as that of Cebu City Police Director Melvin Gayotin and Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau Chief Paul Labra.
However, Gador reminded Tolentino that being a lawyer he should know that in making such allegations, he should also provide evidence.
Tolentino said the local chapter of the IBP will send a resolution to President Arroyo asking for the removal of the three police officials following the series of vigilante-style attacks since Dec. 22, 2004.
At least 117 persons have been gunned down by motorcycle-riding perpetrators.
Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who celebrated his 75th birthday yesterday, again called for an end to the vigilante-style killings.
The cardinal has even brought the issue to the attention of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines during their assembly last Jan. 28.
Gador pointed out that the police are not sitting down on the incidents and are doing their best to solve the cases.
Uncooperative
He said that even the National Bureau of Investigation, which is conducting its own probe, admitted that they have all the physical evidence but can’t point to anybody because of the lack of cooperation from witnesses.
Gador appealed to the witnesses to help the police and assured them that they will be given protection.
He also supported Gayotin’s statement that instead of criticizing the police, the IBP should help them in the investigation. (JST)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 7, 2006 issue)
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