As repeatedly suggested by a columnist in this newspaper, it is indeed time to revisit the case of Skyler Bladen Abatayo.
For those who can no longer recall, he was the four-year-old boy who was accidentally shot dead by policemen during an operation against a drug suspect in Sitio Bato, Barangay Ermita, in April 3, 2019.
The police said it was the drug suspect’s bullet that killed Skyler, but the National Bureau of Investigation found enough evidence to charge several policemen for the accidental death. However, it appears there has been no development in the case since it was filed.
While in other sensational or controversial cases that happened here like the murder of Clarin, Misamis Occidental, Mayor David Navarro, lawyers Jonnah John Ungab, Mary Ann Castro, and Rex Fernandez, and policemen Joie Yape Jr., Delfin Bontuyan, and Brazilio Borinaga, where investigators have no idea who the perpetrators are until now, in Abatayo’s case we know who they are and there is strong evidence against the culprits.
We are just wondering why the case hasn’t had any progress yet.
Could it be because when the case was filed there was a strong influence protecting policemen even if they committed wrongdoings? A strong influence only now coming to light with the confessions of former Cebu City Police Office chief Royina Garma?
Don’t get us wrong here, we aren’t saying that policemen killed Skyler willfully. We don’t think policemen would have a grudge against a young boy after all. But if it was indeed the negligence and recklessness of some policemen that led to the death of an innocent boy then they should be held to account for their actions.
Moving this case forward and laying it to rest will bring some justice to Skyler’s family. Although it already being this late, society still needs to see that those who are responsible should be held liable for their actions.