PRO-7 orders review of unsolved shootings

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  — The Police Regional Office-7 has ordered police investigators in Central Visayas to conduct a review and update of unsolved shooting incidents in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

Superintendent Jovito Atanacio, head of the Dumaguete City Police, confirmed this during the indignation rally carried out by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Negros Oriental chapter, condemning the murder of lawyer Ramon Elesteria outside the Regional Trial Court branch in Bayawan City last September 29.

Atanacio said PRO-7 Director, Chief Superintendent Prudencio “Tom” Bañas had summoned all investigators on case to Cebu City on October 20 for the review of shooting cases the following day. They will bring along with them case folders of shooting incidents in their respective areas of jurisdictions.

The Bañas order came amidst criticisms on the capability and ability of the police to give justice to shooting victims, the latest of which was Elesteria, along with other shooting incidents in Dumaguete City, which as of latest count last September totaled to at least 20 already.

Most of the victims in Dumaguete were either drug personalities or police assets, Atanacio said, citing police records.

Members of the IBP-Negros Oriental, headed by lawyer Cyrus Riconalla, welcomed the announcement of Atanacio, especially on the possible reopening of murder cases on lawyers Archer Baldwin Martinez, who was killed in 2011, Eleazar Casipong and Manolo Zerna, as well as on Judge Orlando Velasco who was killed in 2007.

Atanacio said investigators will be asked about the progress of the cases they have been handling due to observations these were just kept in “cold files” especially when new shooting incidents occurred.

The indignation rally of lawyers last night at the city’s Aquino Freedom Park, also urged the police to present results, and not merely saying they have leads but without any certainty of having witnesses.

Former Dumaguete vice mayor Alan Cordova, said the public and the IBP should not be deceived in the language of politics and bureaucracy and be satisfied when told that the police is doing everything. 

Cordova, who was a shooting victim himself 15 years ago while still a law student, said a lawyer is statistically the most dangerous profession because more lawyers were killed than policemen. “Why is this happening?” he asked.

Cordova was however optimistic justice will be served to the victims, and he would not want to see the day when the lawyers will meet again in another indignation rally.

Another shooting victim, a lawyer and Bayawan City Councilor Victoriano Alabastro, also spoke during the rally and recounted how he survived the attack on June 24, 2011 when he was coming out of a class at the NORSU-Bayawan campus. Up to now, the case is still in court, while the culprits are in jail, but the councilor said his movement have been limited due to fear of reprisals.

Bayawan City Vice Mayor Dan Aurelia said the killing of Elesteria in broad daylight was a slap on the face of the authorities. “This is not about the triggermen; this is about the mastermind’s greed of power,” he said but without elaboration. (FREEMAN)