Killing of boy in Danao City family wants NBI to probe

CEBU, Philippines - The family of the 17-year-old boy who was allegedly killed by a police official in Bogo City last Friday is seeking the help of the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the case.

Spouses Paul and Lilibeth Montesclaros yesterday claimed that their son, Vincent Paul, was tortured before he was shot dead several times by Chief Inspector Ceferino Tabay, Jr., deputy police chief of Bogo City.

Paul said his son sustained seven gunshot wounds and severe injuries in the face.

"Before siya gipusil, gikulata siya, gi-torture siya, pait kaayo ang iyang gibuhat sa akong anak," the father lamented.

Paul said he did not expect his son to die in the hands of Tabay, father of the victim's 16-year-old girlfriend. Paul said they have cautioned his son several times against getting into a relationship with the police official's daughter.

The parents of the victim said they will also request the police to subject Tabay to a drug test to determine if he was not under the influence of drugs when he killed the victim. The victim's parents vowed to pursue the filing of a criminal complaint against Tabay.

Paul believes that they have a strong case against the police official because of the text message from the victim's girlfriend who sought help from their friends because her boyfriend was mauled by her father.

"Tabangi ninyo si Vincent kay gikulata ni Daddy," the text message reads.

Paul said that before the incident last Friday, the suspect had already called up and threatened the victim.

"Di gani na' nimo undangan, mag abot g'yud atong dalan," was allegedly Tabay's words to Vincent. Tabay is against his daughter's relationship with the victim.

Tabay claimed to have committed the crime purely out of fatherly love to his eldest daughter, especially when he saw his daughter's nose bleeding.

The victim was allegedly bringing a gun, prompting Tabay to shot the latter.

Tabay admitted having regretted what he has done. In fact, he rushed the boy to the hospital after shooting him before turning himself in to his colleagues.

The police official said he is ready to face the consequence of his action.

Bogo City police chief, Supt. Anthony Bagarinao, assured the family of the victim that they will handle the case impartially. In fact, they have detained Tabay at the station's stockade like any other crime suspects.

Tabay surrendered his 9mm service pistol and that of the victim's alleged gun. Tabay reportedly shot Vincent dead at a shanty in Barangay Guadalupe, Bogo City at 3 pm last Friday. — /FPL (FREEMAN)