Where were the town policemen when Ronda Mayor Mariano Blanco III was attacked at the Municipal Hall before dawn last Wednesday?
This was the question raised by Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III yesterday.
Davide, who visited Ronda last Wednesday, was told by town police chief Senior Insp. Jay-R Falcon that there were more than 10 personnel who were on duty when unidentified men attacked Blanco inside the mayor’s office.
Two personnel were left in the police station. Five were serving three warrants of arrest in a barangay, while five others were on mobile patrol.
Davide, however, was not satisfied with Falcon’s answer.
Despite his doubts, Davide said he still trusts the police to identify those behind the attack.
He also reiterated his call to the National Bureau of Investigation 7 to conduct a parallel probe.
“This is a high-profile crime. NBI, para nako, have better capability sa investigation,” he said.
A day after the attack, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 relieved from their posts the chief of Ronda Police Station and his personnel.
PRO 7 Director Debold Sinas ordered the relief yesterday morning to pave the way for an inquiry to determine why the town police failed to protect the municipal building, which is just beside the police station.
It will also determine if there were operational lapses.
“We will ask them what really happened,” he said.
Sinas said Falcon and his personnel will be transferred to the Cebu Provincial Police Office.
Investigators are not setting aside the possibility that the attack was drug-related as Blanco had been included in the narco list of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Other possible motives like personal grudges and politics, he said, are also being looked into.
They will also check if Blanco’s murder has any connection to the ambush-slay of his nephew, Ronda vice mayor Jonah John Ungab, last February.
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Rocky Gabatan was appointed mayor following Blanco’s death.
Gabatan confirmed to SunStar Cebu that he assumed the post on Wednesday afternoon after taking his oath before Poblacion village chief Jalanie Ogario.
Gabatan was the town’s former first councilor who became vice mayor when Ungab was killed.
Harold James Llego, the town’s third councilor, assumed the post of vice mayor.
Llego also took his oath before Ogario at the Municipal Hall.
Second councilor Jay Ann Cañete was supposed to assume the vice mayorship but she resigned earlier this year to pursue a career in physical therapy abroad.
Gabatan had to be sworn in immediately as town mayor after receiving word that Blanco had not signed yet the payroll of the town’s 133 job-order employees.
His signature was also necessary for the release of funds for their annual Panaghiusa Festival, which is part of the town’s annual fiesta celebration this year.
On who will fill the vacant seats in the Municipal Council, Department of Interior and Local Governmetn 7 Assistant Director Ma. Loisella Lucino said that the political party that caused the vacancy will have to endorse or nominate a replacement.
“So, ang party that caused the vacancy is katong party karon sa first councilor (Gabatan),” she said.
The endorsement will then be forwarded to Davide, who will appoint the replacement. (JKV, KAL, AYB, HBL)