Palace to NBI: Speed up probe on Arrogante slay

The Office of the President has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) central office to fast-track the investigation of the killing of businessman Renerio “Gogong” Arrogante III, and provide protection to the members of his family and witnesses.

Assistant Secretary Jerome Inciong, in his letter addressed to NBI, a copy of which was made available to The FREEMAN, advised the NBI to take action of the request of Arrogante’s widow, Juliet, for assistance in the investigation.

Juliet was able to meet with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the opening of the New Roll-On, Roll-Off Shipping Port in Bogo City.

She handed to the president a confidential letter requesting for assistance in the investigation of the killing of her husband who was shot last March 9.

The NBI had already arrested Army Sergeant Moises Ludoc as the suspected killer but Juliet and the family believed that there could be other people behind him.

Last Wednesday exactly marked the fourth month since Arrogante was killed, and hundreds of sympathizers gathered at the cemetery of barangay Bitoon for the commemoration.

Coinciding with the occasion was a meeting at the Parliament House in Canberra, Australia between Juliet and Roger Price, a federal member of the Australian Parliament.

Juliet, wearing a white t-shirt marked with “Justice for Gogong,” was there with her daughters, and friends to ask for support from the Australian government on the matter.

Juliet, in her meeting with Price, presented him a copy of the petition with 2,207 signatories asking for support, and a letter detailing the slay case and requesting for some forms of assistance.

Juliet told Price that they decided to seek for help from the Australian government because they have been disappointed with local government officials of Daanbantayan for failure to act on the case.

Price was also informed that local officials have questioned the arrest of Ludoc, then threatened to conduct a separate investigation based on newspaper reports.

Price assured Juliet that he will forward the petition to Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith who in turn will formally present it to the Parliament for discussion.

Earlier, Australian officials have assured the Arrogante family that they will follow up the investigation and monitor the eventual trial of the suspect in the brutal killing.

Smith, in a letter to the Arrogante family and a copy of which was made available to The Freeman, said the Australian Embassy in Manila has been taking a close interest in the case. He said that the Embassy Consular Staff are willing to provide help to the family.

The Australian Embassy in Manila had also written the NBI to show its interest over the case and to request for updates over its progress.

Arrogante had dual citizenship, and had lived in Australia for some time before returning here to go into business and join the local politics.

The Filipino community in Australia had also joined in the call for justice in the Arrogante killing, saying that they were concerned over the killings in Cebu, which might affect its image as a tourist destination in the country. — Jose P. Sollano/RAE