AFTER the surrender of the suspect involved in the death of hit-and-run victim Ana Mae Talili, the bereaved family says they still want a further investigation into the incident.
On Tuesday, February 1, Police Regional Office in Davao (PRO-Davao) spokesperson Lawyer Eudisan Gultiano announced that the suspect is identified as 40-year-old Jester Yucosing, a driver of Vice Mayor John Paul Lampig of the municipality of Boston in Davao Oriental.
In a statement by PRO-Davao, Yucosing surrendered at the Davao City Police Office - Traffic Enforcement Unit after Lampig coordinated with PRO-Davao following Yucosing’s confession to him on January 29.
“It took them how many days before they reported to our regional director. Before that, mayroon na kami witness na nagbigay ng information kung sino ang driver (we already have a witness who gave information about the driver). We’re just happy that at least gi-surrender ni vice mayor ang kanyang driver (the vice mayor surrendered his driver),” Gultiano said.
In a private message to SunStar Davao on February 1, one of the victim’s relatives whose name is withheld said their family is not convinced about the surrender of Yucosing as other people may have been involved or the surrender is used as a cover-up.
They also questioned why it took Yucosing and vice mayor Lampig six days after the incident to report and surrender to the police.
However, Gultiano said she has yet to get the details on the whereabouts of Yucosing during the days he was at large. She also said that PRO-Davao already validated that Lampig was not involved in the incident as he was in Iloilo at the time.
“We’re considering all the elements but it’s still a matter of evidence dahil hindi pa natin mapatunayan kung (nalaman agad) ni vice mayor ang nangyari (because we do not know if the vice mayor knew about the incident immediately) but we are considering all those possible (events),” Gultiano said.
Currently, the police are finalizing the cases Yucosing could be charged with but Gultiano said the suspect could face reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, physical injury, and property damage.
“Titignan natin sa mga elements pero ngayon kasi (We are looking at the elements but for now), it was a traffic incident... Based on the CCTV, walang intent (there was no intent). Talagang mabilis lang ang pagktakbo (The driver was really driving too fast),” the spokesperson said.
The family, on the other hand, said they will wait for other evidence to surface so that it could possibly give further light on the incident.
“Mao ni nanawagan mi kang former president Rodrigo Duterte, vice president Sara Duterte ug Mayor Sebastian Duterte nga unta tabangan mi nga pailawman gyud ni nga imbistigasyon. Salig mi satong batas, mga otoridad ug sa mga Duterte nga dili mi nila pakyason kay saktong hustisya lang gyud among gipangayo (We are appealing to the Dutertes to help us with the further investigation. We are relying on the authorities and the rule of law to get the justice we seek),” the family member said.
Before Yucosing’s surrender, Duterte said during his weekly show Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa on Monday, January 30 that he is offering P500,000 to anyone who could pinpoint the vehicle or give the plate number of the suspect. PRO-Davao identified the vehicle as a Toyota Hilux-Conquest with MV-file no. 1101-1026468.
The hit-and-run incident happened last week, January 26 at Tulip Drive, McArthur Highway in Davao City. Ana Mae Talili, the victim, was riding a motorcycle driven by her companion who survived but also sustained injuries. ICM