Thursday, September 28, 2006 Suspects in killing of manager have pending warrants
THE suspects identified in the robbery and killing of bank manager Narciso Damole have pending arrest warrants for different cases in the cities of Cebu, Manila and Davao.
Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) Director Eduardo Catabas revealed this yesterday, adding that the police are “zeroing in” on the suspects, whose names remain withheld.
The suspects are reportedly wanted for robbery, homicide and murder.
Catabas said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has offered to give “technical assistance” to the MCPO, and that he has already provided the NBI a copy of the investigation report.
The NBI could come in and conduct their own investigation but the effort might be useless because the case is already “partially solved” since the suspects have already been identified, Catabas said.
Nothing wrong
He added that he finds nothing wrong if the MCPO and NBI coordinate to solve the case.
Damole’s relatives have gone to the MCPO to issue statements.
Catabas believes the victim’s family is satisfied with their work, otherwise, they wouldn’t have come to the MCPO.
Upon the request of Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama, the NBI has formed a special panel that will look into the possibility that Damole was murdered.
Police Regional Office 7 Director Silverio Alarcio Jr., for his part, welcomed the involvement of other agencies in the investigation of the Damole case.
Rama said it was “too much of a coincidence” that the crime happened at an unlit and vacant space at the reclamation area.
Offer to help
Sought for comment, Mayor Thadeo Ouano also welcomed the offer of another agency to help in the investigation so the case would be solved at the soonest time possible.
He added that the MCPO could even help in the investigation on the case of rampant vigilante-style killings in Cebu City even if the victims involved are not from Mandaue.
Damole was on his way home to Cebu City last Sept. 19 when stopped along Ouano Ave. in Mandaue to change a flat tire.
Two robbers reportedly approached him and took his cellular phone, watch and wallet, which had about P15,000 that he had just withdrawn.
He was shot in the chest and stomach.
The Damole case prompted the review of the deployment of policemen in Mandaue City to improve police visibility. (AAG)
