Thursday, June 05, 2008 Espinoza: Lapu-Lapu police should give up probe By Elias L. Espinoza Free Zone
THE Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) should voluntarily turn over the investigation on the murder of Jun Gingoyon, a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent, to another law enforcement agency to avoid suspicion of coverup.
A previous feud between Gingoyon and some Lapu-Lapu policemen arising from confusion over a drug operation led to the filing of charges and countercharges. That is enough reason for the city police to inhibit from the case.
Although Gingoyon’s relatives did not insinuate anything against the city police, they asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate his murder.
Earlier, PDEA Director Dionisio Santiago asked the city police to forget the feud and instead focus its investigation on who masterminded the killing. Gingoyon was shot dead while he was driving home.
Police Regional Office 7 Chief Ronald Roderos took the cue from Santiago and is set to decide whether to take away the investigation from the Lapu-Lapu police.
Even if the city police will show impartiality, Gingoyon’s family will always doubt the result of their investigation.
The Lapu-Lapu police seem to have a different theory on Gingoyon’s murder. Unwittingly, they showed prejudice when they released the testimony of one of the suspects, Romulo Soreño, to the media.
Soreño, hours after the killing, reportedly surrendered to the police to dispel suspicions against him. He was accused of driving the getaway motorcycle used by Michael Baclohan after he allegedly shot Gingoyon in Basak.
Isn’t it surprising that Soreño immediately knew he was one of the suspects in Gingyon’s murder, and that the safest place for him is the LCPO?
The Lapu-Lapu police should not hang on to the investigation. Be transparent, gentlemen!
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Sen. Manny Villar should make good his promise to include the Visayan Electric Co. (Veco), other power firms and the electric cooperatives in the Senate hearing on Meralco’s high power rates.
Some two years ago, a couple from Mandaue City complained about Veco’s billing, which included other charges they didn’t know of. Veco officials only said the charges were approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
GSIS president and general manager Winston Garcia questioned the rates that Meralco collects, thus the Senate inquiry. Consumers are made to pay “system loss.”
When I checked my Veco billing, I was appalled that we were also made to pay for “system loss,” aside from “missionary electrification,” “environmental charge,” “subsidy on lifeline charge,” etc.
What these additional charges are that Veco never explained to consumers add up to almost 100 percent of the power consumption we consumers are obliged to pay.
There is no question Veco greatly improved its service after the change in management. But it doesn’t mean we consumers have accepted the unexplained charges. We’re just terrified of disconnection if we don’t pay our bill.
Instead of explaining the additional charges at the Senate hearing, Veco should now explain these to us and not just telling us the ERC approved them.
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The saying that there is nothing impossible in the Philippines is confirmed by the TV ads showing senators acting as product endorsers or advocates of a noble cause.
Even surprising is that these senators are possible presidential candidates in the May 2010 elections. Are our election laws insufficient to stop this underhanded poll tactic? Comelec, wake up!
