THE families of two victims killed in the ambush of San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya are no longer interested in pressing charges against the suspects behind the attempt, police officials said on Friday, Feb. 15.
The families of Allan Bayot and Ricky Monterona will no longer press charges against the six suspects for fear that their cohorts, who are still at large, will retaliate against them.
With this development, the complaint that was supposed to be filed against Jerome Labitad, Felix Abacajan Jr. and four others was not filed in court on Friday.
Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, Police Regional Office 7 director, said he was surprised at the sudden turnaround, saying the affidavits of Reluya and Giovanni Perez, one of the mayor’s bodyguards and one of the witnesses in the ambush, were already prepared by the Special Investigation Task Group.
He said he sent an investigator to secure the commitment of the families of Bayot and Monterona so that the complaint could be filed by Friday.
Bayot, who served as driver, and Monterona, San Fernando’s local economic investments and promotions officer, were killed along with Reluya’s husband, Ricardo Jr., during the ambush last Jan. 20.
Sinas explained they need the cooperation of the relatives of the two victims so they can finally file the case in court.
Earlier, Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Senior Supt. Manuel Abrugena said they hoped to file the charges against Labitad and his cohorts within the week after they were able to secure the results of the ballistic and cross-matching of the suspects’ weapons to the bullets found at the crime scene.
But Sinas said if the relatives of the two victims won’t cooperate despite their insistence, they will have no choice but to file the case in court.
Sinas said they plan to return to the homes of the two victims next week to convince their relatives to cooperate with them. (AYB of Superbalita Cebu, JKV)