Wednesday, January 14, 2009 Probers still looking for gunman; Cebu lawyers condemn murder
SINCE there was no basis to consider him a suspect, the fraternity member earlier questioned in relation to the killing of Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Patrick Ian Osorio was released from police custody Monday afternoon.
“He was not a suspect. I never declared that we have arrested a suspect or the gunman. Maybe some other task force has made the declaration. We will not force the issue if there is no evidence yet. If there are developments, we will inform the public. We will not hide anything,” said Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador.
This, as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu and Cebu City chapters said they are condemning, in the strongest terms, Osorio’s murder and asking for the immediate resolution of the case.
In its first joint resolution for 2009, the two IBP chapters said Osorio’s “treacherous killing clearly shows the deteriorating peace and order in our community.”
Reminder
Worse, the ambush that happened in broad daylight is a reminder of the countless murders in the past few years, they said.
The resolution also expressed concern over the “culture of violence that has engulfed our society, thereby contributing to the loss of respect for human life and dignity and ultimately undermining the rule of law.”
Comendador yesterday confirmed they took Ritcham Alda into custody after the latter went to the Mambaling Police Station to answer questions from the police for allegedly changing the color of his motorcycle from red to black.
Alda was escorted by his mother and a sibling in going to the Homicide Section last Saturday afternoon.
Investigators also asked Alda about the text message he sent to a witness to the killing. He supposedly said in that message that he tailed and shot Osorio last Jan. 6.
Joke
During the investigation, Alda, however, claimed he was merely joking when he sent the message to the witness, who had erased it from his cellular phone.
Comendador said Alda was also presented to the witnesses, including the one who reportedly received the text message. They, however, said Alda did not fit the descriptions of either the gunman or the accomplice.
After a thorough evaluation and conferring with the other members of the task force, Comendador said they released Alda past 2 p.m. Monday.
There were also other people that police invited for questioning but soon released, for lack of any basis to hold them.
Comendador said the PNP Task Force Osorio is still “in the process of elimination” to identify the suspects.
The task force will not resort to a haphazard investigation and pick up a fall guy just to make it appear that the police were able to solve Osorio’s killing, Comendador said.
Chief’s appeal
He also appealed to the media to be sensitive and careful in releasing information about the investigation on Osorio’s killing.
lawyer Medardo de Lemos, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 director, said the agency is “doing the best it can to get to the bottom of the killing.”
“The wheels of justice may turn slow, but they grind exceedingly fine,” he added.
Agents interviewed Osorio's secretary yesterday over the complaints and cases Osorio handled. Other staff members are also being eyed.
“Maybe they know of somebody who had some ill will against the prosecutor over his handling of some cases,” de Lemos said.
Osorio, 36, was killed by a lone gunman on board a motorcycle driven by an accomplice along Ma. Gochan St., Mambaling exactly a week yesterday. The assistant prosecutor was alone in his vehicle and stuck in a traffic jam when attacked. He is survived by a pregnant wife and four children. (JTG/KNR)
