Councilman probed for “harboring” wanted criminal

CEBU, Philippines - A barangay councilman is being investigated for allegedly harboring Cebu City’s most wanted person in Barangay Pamutan.

Cebu City Police Office’s Investigation and Detective Management Branch chief Bonifacio Garciano said they will look into reports that Pamutan councilman Clemente Rago was hiding the late Rodrigo Labitad.

Labitad was killed in an encounter with the police last Sunday.

“We will conduct an investigation if tinuod ba iyang gisulti na bag-ong naabot sa ila ang suspek,” Garciano said.

Rago went to IDMB office yesterday to voluntarily submit himself for investigation. The councilman denied hiding Labitad.

“Akong klaruhon na wala nako siya gitago ( I will make this clear, I did not hide him (Labitad),” Rago told reporters.

In fact, he allegedly convinced Labitad to surrender. Rago admitted that Labitad was his friend. According to Rago, he accommodated Labitad in his house last Sunday because the latter invited him to a drinking session.

He admitted knowing that the suspect was a wanted person. In fact, it was the first time that he saw Labitad after sometimes because the latter went on hiding in Davao.

“Miistorya siya naa siya’y problema, gikapoy na daw siya’g tago. Akong giistoryahan  na ‘unsa man, mu-surrender ka? Sa una bitaw mi-surrender ka pero mipuga man gihapon ka (He confided to me that he was already tired of hiding. I asked him if he was willing to surrender),” the barangay councilman narrated.

 Rago said that just as he was already able to convince Labitad to surrender that the police arrived. Rago said he ran to make sure his children are safe.

The councilman confirmed that Labitad fired at the police resulting in a shootout which eventually killed the suspect.

PO3 Philip Ray Alcazar hit Labitad in the chest and right underarm.

Labitad, 51, has been wanted for murder and rape for almost two decades already. He escaped from his security escorts in September 6, 1993.

He was considered the most wanted person in Cebu City with a bounty of P300,000 over his head. – FPL (FREEMAN)