Witness: Slain drug suspect not behind Ateneo grad's shooting

The family of Ateneo political science graduate Tara Santelices said yesterday the suspected drug pusher killed in a shootout in Antipolo City, Rizal last Monday was not the one who shot her last Aug. 6.

Santelices’ father Larry and a witness to Tara’s shooting in Cainta, Rizal went to the funeral parlor to have a clear look at the slain suspect, Orlando del Rosario, 29, whom police claimed shot Tara during a holdup.

Del Rosario, according to the witness, was not the one who shot Tara when she refused to let go of her bag containing her laptop.

Because of the witness’ declaration, Dante Jimenez, founding chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, warned that the police who claimed that Del Rosario was behind Tara’s shooting could be held liable for dereliction of duty.

“What the police are doing is to create a fall guy which they killed in an operation. It’s a shortcut method,” Jimenez said.

Santelices remains in coma at Medical City as the bullet from a caliber .38 revolver got embedded in her head.

Tara’s family expressed dismay over the “snail-paced” investigation of the Rizal police on the shooting.

“The victim’s family is not happy about the progress of the police investigation,” said Jimenez, who called on the police not to declare Tara’s shooting “closed or solved” following Del Rosario’s killing.

Tara’s parents have sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation in pursuing their daughter’s case.