Delfin Bontuyan

Police Captain Delfin Bontuyan is now laid to rest.

I remember him as my loyal and efficient service driver when he started his career. He belonged to a landed family but joined the police service as he wanted more action and to better serve his country. We parted ways when I was transferred to different assignments outside Cebu until my retirement and engaged in the practice of Law. Bontuyan was assigned in the premier investigation unit, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

While he was at CIDG, I came to know his exploits in running after the criminals. His promotion was a bit faster than his peers from a buck policeman to police captain.

It is, however, unfortunate that a barrage of shame news followed after he fell from assassins’ bullets rampaging whatever vestige left to the constitutionally inviolable presumption of innocence. Yet, one has yet to open the floodgates of his good deeds he had done to his country and the police organization as well.

For one, when almost everybody was aghast with the cold-blooded murder of Elpidio dela Victoria, a crusading and multi-awarded Bantay Dagat Director, Bontuyan single-handily solved the crime that led to the arrest and conviction of the culprit who turned out to be a cop killer. I was the private prosecutor who handled the case upon request of the victim’s family who are my relatives.

One good policeman is lost. Don’t let it be forgot, that once there was a man, for one brief shining moment, he was known as Delfin Bontuyan.

Fritz Quiñanola

Lawyer

General