Garbo to review sensational cases personally

CEBU, Philippines - Newly-installed Police Regional Office -7 Director Marcelo Garbo said yesterday he will personally go through all sensational cases in the region if only to help solve them faster. 

Garbo, who assumed office on Monday, told The FREEMAN he will be asking a copy of reports of all unsolved high-profile cases in Central Visayas from the Regional Intelligence Division.

“I will be asking on the background of the cases that happened before I came. Syempre bago pa naman ako so I could not tell you anong magagawa natin,” he said.

He said that as implementers of the law, the police have the responsibility to prioritize high-profile cases. One case that caught Garbo’s attention is that of Bella Ruby Santos who, alongside her boyfriend Charles Griffiths, was tagged as suspect in the kidnapping and killing of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique. 

A warrant was issued for their arrest over two months ago, but Ruby remains at large. Griffiths, meanwhile, managed to leave the country before formal charges could be filed against them, but he was arrested by authorities in London.

Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador said they have not ceased in their efforts to locate Santos. He said there is a time for everything and media cannot just dispense of the difficulties his men have encountered in searching for Santos.

Comendador said Santos is still in the country, but there is a group of people reportedly trying to protect her.

On a separate issue, Comendador said the information that kidnappers from Mindanao are coming to Cebu was a hoax. The report, reportedly coming from one Lt. Oliver, circulated through mobile phones. Comendador said it was intended to scare people, but he still ordered it to be verified. 

For his part, Mandaue City Police Director Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac said two sensational cases are under their jurisdiction at present – the killing of businessman Antonio Ouano and Iris Hugo.

On July 22, Ouano was killed while driving his Toyota Hi-Lux Surf along Mantawi Drive. Motorcycle-in-tandem suspects stopped as the man riding in pillion took aim and fired at Ouano who was hit four times on the chest and belly. He passed away at the hospital.

Last September 16, Hugo was on board her Hyundai Starex van when two men on board a motorcycle arrived while the van was at the corner of Andres Soriano Ave. and Plaridel St. in Barangay Looc near the Mandaue City Hospital.

One of the two men, armed with a .45 pistol, fired at the driver’s side of the vehicle, hitting Hugo on the head. She was declared dead in the hospital.

Gillamac said, there are already developments in the two cases but information will have to remain confidential at this point. — (FREEMAN)