Thursday, June 05, 2008 CIDG to lead probe on Gingoyon murder
THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 will lead the investigation on the killing of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent Pricillano Gingoyon, Jr.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Ronald Roderos designated CIDG 7 as lead agency yesterday.
Roderos also announced the creation of Task Force Gingoyon, which will conduct further investigation into the agent’s ambush in Lapu-Lapu City last May 23.
Roderos made the decision after holding two separate meetings with PDEA 7 officials last Monday afternoon and with Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO) Director Louie Oppus and other concerned police divisions last Tuesday afternoon.
Transparency
To avoid “innuendos and for transparency”, Roderos said, he designated the CIDG7 to take the lead in the investigation.
The Lapu-Lapu City police force, however, would not be shut out in the investigation as they would support the CIDG 7 in the gathering of evidence.
Roderos said Oppus personally recommended that the investigation be conducted by a separate unit.
Oppus, in an interview, said that what he did was not a surrender of jurisdiction.
Oppus said he does not want doubts to be raised on the investigation, especially that PDEA insinuated that Gingoyon’s death may have something to do with his conflict with some Lapu-Lapu policemen.
Criticism
“Para wala nay duda, besides the case against atong duha ka suspects na file naman nato. So the ball is now with the court to resolve (It is to remove doubts, besides we already filed a case against the two suspects),” he said.
Gingoyon’s family had criticized the manner the Lapu-Lapu police conducted the investigation.
With the designation of the CIDG 7 as lead investigating agency, Roderos has ordered the Lapu Lapu police to turn over the evidence they have gathered.
“The CIDG 7 will now take care of the actual nitty-gritty of the case,” Roderos said.
Roderos ordered CIDG 7 to find other vital evidence like the getaway motorcycle used by the shooters.
Supt. Rex Derilo of CIDG 7 said in a separate interview that they will look into other personalities involved in the killing.
Derilo said murder complaints have been filed against suspects Romulo de Soreño and Michael Baclohan. He said whatever evidence they would find along the way, they would include this as supplement in the filing of the charges.
Oppus, meanwhile, said Lapu-Lapu police is on track in crushing the illegal drug trade in the city using information given by Soreño.
Soreño earlier alleged that Gingoyon supplied drugs to traders in Lapu-Lapu City.
Soreño gave himself up to police shortly after the ambush on Gingoyon to clear his name and deny involvement in the killing. (JST/AIV)
