Sketch bolsters theory that cop is the killer

Police investigators now have a cartographic sketch of the suspect in the robbery-slay that left two people dead last Saturday along T. Padilla st. and it bolstered their theory that a policeman might have done the crime.

Victim Pilar Hernandez, who incidentally turned 62 that fateful day, owned PRH Lending Investment Incorporated, which caters mainly to the financial needs of people in the police force. Also found dead was her secretary, Wevina Pancho. An undetermined amount of money was also taken.

Hernandez earned the reputation as savior of some policemen since it was her firm where they would turn to when they badly need cash. The said businesswoman reportedly would always grant the loan of policemen even if the one applying for a loan is a first-timer provided that there is somebody who would stand as their guarantor.

Some policemen, who are sending their children to school, admitted they at have least at one time approached Hernandez especially during the enrollment period.

However, while some policemen speak volumes about her good side, there are others who tell a different story claiming that Hernandez is very strict when it comes to complying with their agreement.

According to reports, some policemen would sell their paychecks ahead of the payday because of the need, but others would trick PRH Lending Investment Inc. by selling it to other loan sharks.

"Kadto rang di maayong mamayad, kadto ganing ang mga tseke nila nga ilaha nang gibaligya daan kang ma'am (Hernandez), unya pag-adto ni ma'm didto sa region gikuha na diay og una sa polis ang ilang sweldo," a policeman who refused to be named told The Freeman.

The cop said, most of the time these cops who tricked Hernandez would likely end up coming back to her to apply for another loan, for this reason Hernandez would scold these cops, but still would grant them a loan.

Homicide Section chief, Inspector Erlando Metante told The Freeman that the investigation would go as far as checking the list of who among the clients have large debts to PRH.

"Basta tanang anggulo hasta tanang utangan atong subayon," Metante explained.

He said with the information they could get from the list they could pick one after the other for investigation and at the same time for the witnesses to identify if they fit the description of the suspect.

With the way the suspect is described, Metante is even more convinced that suspect could be one of their own, and finding him among the ranks would be a lot easier compared to scouring the entire Cebu population.

Hernandez who was already wounded managed to utter the name of the suspect. The police believe that such information would help them complete the investigation faster.

Metante told The Freeman that they will ask all police units from Police Regional Office 7, the Cebu Provincial Police Office and Cebu City Police Office to help them in the investigation by presenting their men for a line up.

Yesterday Cebu City Police Office director Melvin Gayotin approved the release of the cartographic sketch of the suspect based on the accounts of the driver.

The suspect is described to be about 30 to 35 years old, with a stocky built, but with a slightly protruding belly. He had a wavy short hair and appeared to be the calm and quiet type.

According to the driver, the man even smiled at him when he wa about to go out to bring the goods Hernandez have bought from Carbon earlier before going into the office.

The said man was already waiting for the office to open when the victims and the driver arrived.

Police Regional Office-7 Director Silverio Alarcio said that would file charges against who is responsible no matter who he is.

"Maganda 'yan kung mapi-pick up ng mga imbestigador natin, walang problema kahit sino pa iyan basta may kasalanan kakasuhan natin," Alarcio said. He however, added that he did not receive any reports yet if there are some police officials, who owed much money to Hernandez.

The regional director also expressed confidence on the way the CCPO is handling the investigation and said that this will be solved very soon.

On the other hand, Cebu Provincial Police Office director Police S/Supt. Vicente Loot yesterday said that he already gave directives to the Provincial Intelligence and Investigation Branch to investigate after he heard reports that a provincial policeman is eyed as the suspect of killing Hernandez. Loot said that a witness was brought to the PIIB and the Admin office of the CPPO to look into the roster of policemen and check pictures of the suspected assailant.- with Norvie Misa