CITY Mayor Oscar Moreno appeals to the media and the public not to interfere in the investigation on the killing of Dr. Ricardo Rotoras, and leave the matter entirely up to the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo).
Moreno advised the public to refrain from giving unnecessary comments especially if it does not help speed up but most likely compromise the ongoing investigation of the murder of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) president.
“Ayaw na ninyo padakoa, hangyo ko sa media (Don't make this big, this my request to the media) the family has suffered enough, posible naay problema sa pamilya pero dili relating sa killing (maybe there's a family problem but this is not related to the killing),” Moreno said.
“Hangyo nato sa media dili na padakoa, bahala na ang authorities (let the authorities) handle this and attending this, please I appeal to you nga dili na buhatan mga anggulo (Don't make any angles), nice paminawon pero sakit kaayo sa pamilya (the news might be interesting and nice but this is very painful to the family), they have suffered enough,” he added.
Moreno was reacting to the surprising development in which the Rotoras family tagged the widow of Dr. Rotoras as a person of interest and urged police to include her in their investigation.
Eldie Rotoras, the family's spokesperson cited some unusual behaviors of widow Zarah Lynn that made family members decide to tag her as one of the persons of interest.
“Let his soul rest in peace and let the family suffer in silence,” Moreno urged the public.
Moreno said he has already ordered the police act swiftly and provide justice the soonest possible.
The only person of interest in the Rotoras murder case was Architect Rey Galua who is now in jail but for illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges. Up to now, authorities fail to connect a solid evidence to link him in the murder of Dr. Rotoras.
Last January 12, authorities also arrested Johnreal Abel Gumanay who was identified as the gunman of Dr. Rotoras. He was nabbed in Makati City for another murder case.
But for Eldie, he believes that the gunman was a “fall guy.”
“Until now, the police cannot establish the connection of Gumanay to my brother. We are afraid that the case against him will still be dismissed because there is no concrete evidence. The architect also, although he's in prison, it's not because of the murder of my brother, but for another charges,” he said.
“We are doing everything we can to find justice for our brother because until now, we are still thirsty for justice,” Eldie adds.