Lawyer’s murder: Bohol cops face probe for “protecting” suspects

CEBU, Philippines - Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño has ordered an investigation into the allegation that the policemen in Panglao and Tagbilaran City in Bohol are protecting the mastermind in the killing of a lady lawyer last week.

Taliño said he already directed the chiefs of police to explain the allegation.

“Pinapa-check natin yan, di lang Panglao pati Tagbilaran City chief of police, na may info na lumalabas na ganyan. They were denying the allegation na pinuprotektahan, sabi ko pa imbestigahan ko, at I told them to explain bakit may ganyan,” he said.

The police officers involved in the investigation on the murder of lawyer Mia Mascarinas-Green, however, denied the accusation.

Tagbilaran City Police Station chief Superintendent Nicomedes Olaivar and Panglao Police chief Senior Inspector Jomar Pomarejos were accused by businesswoman Conrada Blomqvist of not acting on her request for protection against Lloyd Lancer Gonzaga, suspect in the killing of Green.

Blomqvist filed a formal complaint against the two police stations for allegedly disregarding her request for assistance and protection from Gonzaga, her son-in-law, who allegedly seized ownership of Alona Embrace Hotel and the lot property she owns. Green is Blomqvist’s lawyer in the case. She alleged in the report that she and her lawyer were threatened by Gonzaga.

Both Gonzaga and his alleged hitman identified as Romarico Benigi-an are now subject of a police manhunt operation.

Olaivar denied protecting Gonzaga and his alleged hitman. In fact, they are filing a case today against Gonzaga and the other suspects.

Pomarejos also refuted the allegations hurled by Blomqvist. He said that it’s not true that he did not provide assistance to the latter. In fact, he said, all her requests for assistance were recorded in police blotter, Pomarejos said.

Blomqvist’s request for assistance from Panglao police station negates her complaint against him, Pomarejos said.            

Pomarejos also denied that his men frequented Gonzaga’s hotel and get a free meal.

Meanwhile, Judge Sucezo “Susing” Arcamo of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 49 said that the arrest of the suspects can be carried out by law enforcers in hot pursuit operations within 48 hours from the time the crime was committed even in the absence of a warrant.

Green was shot dead on February 15 while driving her car along Purok 2, Sitio Lanao, Barangay Dao, Tagbilaran City. The incident happened in front of the lawyer’s three children and a helper. — Mylen P. Manto and Ric V. Obedencio (FREEMAN)