A FAMILY member sought help from the police in Alcoy town, Cebu for a case that happened in 2018 when her older brother was killed, only to be told “ipabarang ang killers (bewitch the killers by voodoo).”
Feeling slighted, she went to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 for help. This resulted in the identification and filing of charges against four suspected killers, two of them have already been apprehended by the police.
Rubelyn Mosqueda, in an interview with dyHP, said that in 2018, her brother, Armando, was on his way home after attending a fiesta when he was shot dead by four men.
When her family sought help from the police in Alcoy, they were asked if they knew the killers. When they were not able to answer, they were told to bewitch the killers by voodoo.
“Among gi report sa kapulisan sa Alcoy kay magpatabang unta mi. Giingnan ra mi pagbalik diri, giari mi diri sa amoa pag two days, giingnan mi nga ‘Naa namoy nailhan nga suspek? ‘Wala pa lagi, sir.’ Nya giingnan ra mi niya nga ‘ipabarang lang to ninyo. Naa maoy kaila nga mambabarang?” said Mosquedo.
(We reported the incident to the Alcoy police for help. One of them who came back to our house asked, ‘Do you know of any suspects?’ We answered, ‘Not yet, sir.’ Then he told us, ‘Bewitch them by voodoo. Do you know of any witch?)
Feeling dejected, the Mosqueda family went to NBI 7. With the agency’s help, they filed murder charges against June Collins delos Santos, Mark Anthony Imperial, Harries Denolerao, and Paul Chris Custin.
A warrant of arrest was issued, but only two—delos Santos and Imperial—were apprehended yet by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 7.
After the head of the Cebu Police Provincial Office, Police Colonel Engelbert Soriano, learned about the experience of the Mosqueda family, he requested to meet with them to put the police officer under investigation.
If the allegations were proven true, the police officer could face administrative charges.
Soriano also said that if it happened, it was not proper for the police to blurt out such advice.
“Unang una, napaka improper ng handling nila ng parties. Pangalawa uncalled for yung kanilang mga remarks kung totoo ito na sinabi nila. Hindi dapat lumalabas sa bunganga ng isang professional na police yan. Titingnan po natin lahat, siguro mag initiate ako ng investigation sa kanila,” matod ni Soriano.
(First of all, the handling of the parties involved was very improper. Second, the remark was uncalled for, if what was said was true. Such a statement must not come out from a professional policeman. We will look into this. I may initiate an investigation on them.)
Soriano directed CPPO’s Investigation and Detective Management Unit to check on the complaint. (AYB/NRC)