Thursday, October 05, 2006 We will no longer seek justice: slain ex-con’s kin
THE family of Epitacio Ocariza Jr. is not interested in seeking justice for his death, saying the killing will just have to be in the list of unsolved murders in the city.
“Dili nalang mi mangita og hustisya (We will not seek justice),” Sheila Ocariza-Gulane, Epitacio’s youngest sister, said in a telephone interview yesterday.
The family isn’t asking any help from the Commission on Human Rights either.
Epitacio, of Sitio Royal, Barangay Cogon-Pardo, Cebu City, was gunned down by men on motorcycle 30 minutes after walking out of a police station detention cell Monday night.
The killing took place at 9:10 p.m. corner J. Tabora and Dacalos Sts., near the Barangay Hall of Poblacion-Pardo, some 150 meters away from the Pardo Police Station.
Epitacio was waiting for a motorcycle ride for home when shot.
Epitacio died of multiple gunshot wounds in the head and body.
He had been detained after his arrest last Friday for stealing a bag containing P1,500 cash owned by a lady physician.
He was released at 8:40 p.m. last Monday after the victim decided not to pursue a case against him.
Homicide Section chief Erlando Metante told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday he had assigned a team to investigate and look for witnesses.
Incident report
Metante said he can’t conclude yet if vigilantes are responsible.
Acting Cebu City Police Director Melvin Gayotin told reporters yesterday he already ordered Pardo Police Station chief Alexis Relado to submit a report on the incident.
Gayotin said the report will help him determine if the police station can be held liable for failing to immediately respond to the alarm.
Relado, in an earlier interview, said he and his men were at the crime scene three minutes after he heard gunfire.
In a telephone interview yesterday afternoon, Sheila said they are more concerned about finding funds for the burial of Epitacio.
Shiela said her family needs at least P8,000 for the burial expenses. (JST)
