Lawyer eyes raps vs. Talisay Police

CEBU, Philippines - Lawyer Raul Sesbreño, whose wife and two other companions died in an ambush last Wednesday, is planning to file charges against the Talisay City Police for failing to provide them security.

Sesbreño contends that since he and his wife came from Barangays Lawaan 1, 2, and 3 where several structures located in their property were demolished on order of the court, the police should have provided them security even after they left the site.

Sesbreño’s wife Virginia, their caretaker Soledad Epanto, and family friend Joshua Young, who was the owner of driver of the vehicle they were riding at the time of the ambush, all died in the attack.

Two motorcycle-riding men fired at them while the Isuzu DMax pick-up of Young waited for the light to turn green at the Cebu South Coastal Road corner Rabaya St., Cansojong, Talisay City.

He told The FREEMAN that after the demolition, the police left the site when they were called by Supt. Eddie Recamara, Talisay City Police Chief, to allegedly respond to an alarm.

He contends that the police should have provided them security within the jurisdiction of the city and not only at the demolition site.

“Within the jurisdiction naay security unta maong naingon ato kay way police diha kay gipa-pull out ni Recamara,” (Within the jurisdiction there should be security that’s why it happened because Recamara pulled them out) Sesbreño said.

For his part, Recamara told The FREEMAN that the security is intended only for demolition according to the order.

“Naay order ana unya kung mo-go beyond mi ma-consider mi nga bias,” (There is an order and if we go beyond it, we might be considered biased) Recamara said.

Recamara also explained that they only have two police cars and he was forced to call the team from the demolition site to respond to a trouble alarm.

 Recamara added that it is Sesbreño’s right to file a case.

   Sesbreño, who is now out of the province, said he will continue the demolition as soon as he will come back.

He will also personally prepare the charges to be filed against the persons responsible for the crime.

The police are still pursuing leads on the case, but the lawyer has announced a day after the incident that he knows who are behind it.

He also alleged that the killing was related to demolition of structures in the lot that they own. — (FREEMAN)