Brother of slain engineer faces obstruction charges

CEBU, Philippines - The policeman brother of the engineer, who was killed the other day on the highway of Consolacion town, could face charges of obstruction of justice for allegedly requesting to have the body be pulled out of the highway before the Scene of Crime Operatives (SOCO) team arrived to gather forensic evidence.

Supt. Erson Digal, deputy director for administration of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, said that they have already instructed Consolacion Police Station chief, Sr. Insp. Jose Elmer Fernandez to conduct an investigation on SPO1 Silas Ceballo of the Compostela Police Station.

SPO1 Ceballo, brother of the fatality Malequias Ceballo, requested that the body be pulled out and brought to the Rolling Hills Memorial Chapels in Mandaue City immediately.

The SOCO team, which was caught in the traffic jam caused by the killing,just proceeded to the Consolacion Police Station when they reached the crime scene to gather what were already recovered.

Silas, yesterday, along with their relative SPO3 Ramon Perales, voluntarily submitted themselves to a paraffin test and their weapons to a ballistic test.

SPO1 Ceballo, chief of traffic division of Compostela town, said that he and Perales agreed to undergo the test to clear their names.

He said that he was hurt after learning of the accusations against him over the death of his brother.

Silas and Perales were suspended for six months after Malequias complained that evidence was planted in his vehicle when he was brought to the Compostela Police Station after going berserk.

The policeman admitted that there was indeed a miscommunication between him and his elder brother over a land negotiation, but he pointed out that he could not do kill his own brother.

“Maski unsa ang bangi sa igsuon, igsuon gihapon na,” Silas said.

SPO1 Ceballo also said that he did not ask that the body be removed but was asked by policemen from Consolacion if they could already move the remains of his brother, which he agreed to.

He said he just agreed as the incident already created a traffic jam.

Reporters then interviewed him that he already no longer had any idea what happened next as the area was also already cordoned.

However, Digal said that the traffic situation should have been the least of his concerns as there are traffic enforcers.

Digal said that as a policeman, SPO1 Ceballo should have known from the start that the body should not be pulled from the scene until the SOCO team arrives, this for the preservation of evidence.

Digal said that the assailants remain still unidentified and they continue to pursue the different angles to determine the motive of the killing.

The fatality, Malequias, 50, a resident of barangay Cogon, Compostela, worked as an engineer at Cebu Holdings Inc.

Digal said that the Provincial Criminal Investigation and Detective Group will assist in the investigation.

Ceballo was killed by three motorcycle-riding men while he was driving on the highway in barangay Pitogo, Consolacion town early Thursday morning. — Niña G. Sumacot/NLQ   (THE FREEMAN)