PIIB: CIDG bungled probe into Bogo Land Bank rob

Provincial Intelligence and Investigation Branch chief Supt. Juanito Enguerra accused the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 of bungling the investigation on Joel Sumabong, a suspect in the Bogo Land Bank robbery who implicated Bogo Mayor Celestino Martinez III to the crime.

Last March 1, the CIDG-7 came up with the result of their investigation and announced to the media that there were four inconsistencies in the sworn statement of Sumabong and that they have no proof to pin Martinez as the mastermind of the robbery.

And due to the response of the Martinez's camp that the allegations made by Sumabong and Dindo Ancero were politically motivated, the Cebu Provincial Police Office director, S/Supt. Vicente Loot inhibited from the investigation and the RIID, PRO7 tasked the CIDG to further probe the Land Bank robbery.

In a press statement, Enguerra said he noted six discrepancies in the investigation conducted by the CIDG: First, the CIDG failed to check the contents of three SIM cards of Sumabong where the alleged cellular phone number and messages of Martinez are stored. They also reportedly did not check with the Smart Telecom if it was really the cellular number of the mayor.

Second, Sumabong complained that while he was giving statements to the CIDG investigator, there was a person who kept on calling the cellphone of the investigator and he suspected the caller belong to the Martinez camp. Sumabong mentioned that he told the investigator about the person who brought the P9.4 million, the location of the house where the money was kept and who owns the house but these were not reflected in his affidavit.

Third, the CIDG failed to invite credible witnesses like Roy Ylanan, the security personnel of the Martinezes, and an employee of Bogo Municipal Government assigned to the Human Settlement building where the suspects were provided with food and shelter before the robbery. But instead invited the mayor for questioning.

Fourth, the CIDG failed to check the original Official Receipts of Bogo Multi-purpose Cooperative duly signed by the suspects when they took their meals there.

Fifth, the CIDG concentrated on analyzing the inconsistencies of the statements of the witnesses and the suspects instead of probing deeper for facts and circumstances to aid in the eventual solution of the case.

Lastly, the PIIB also questioned the presence of Inocencio Dela Cerna, the alleged CIDG-7 legal adviser, who happens to be a friend of the lawyer of the Martinezes.

Enguerra recommend that a Task Force be created by RIID, PRO-7 that will further investigate the robbery case and the seven unsolved murder cases in Bogo before "further damage" is inflicted by CIDG-7.

Meanwhile, CIDG-7 chief S/Supt. Oscar Catalan blew his top yesterday upon learning of Enguerra's accusations.

Catalan said Enguerra should stop accusing them of bungling the investigation because in the first place the investigation was first conducted by the CPPO with Enguerra at the helm.

And now that his office cannot come out with results of investigation, the provincial police inhibited from it and transferred it to the CIDG-7 office, Catalan said.

He said the main reason why they wanted to transfer the investigation to their office is because they want to implicate the mayor.

"We were tasked to make further investigation, hindi siya satisfied and who is he na gagawa siya ng statement na ganyan? In the first place he should have done these things before, ngayon nag-Poncio Pilato siya? Washing his hands?" Catalan said.

Catalan said until now they are still in the process of inviting more witnesses and pointed out that they have not cleared Martinez yet.

He also said that Enguerra should also stop questioning their office in authorizing Dela Cerna to represent them as it is none of his business. - Flor Z. Perolina and Norvie S. Misa