Sinas to family: Cooperate in probe

CEBU, Philippines — The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) is requesting the family of the policeman who was shot dead in Toledo City last Tuesday night  to cooperate in order to expedite the investigation behind his untimely death.

Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, director of PRO-7, told reporters in a press conference that investigators on the case of Police Officer 2 Melchizedek Batomalaque is considering personal grudge as the motive behind the attack.

He said that in order for the investigation to move forward, “in-depth” accounts from the family will be vital.

“Actually, we are checking the motive kasi baka personal grudge most likely o kasosyo kay dugay-dugay siya nawala (Central Visayas) tapos nabalik. (That’s why) we are leaning more on personal grudge,” Sinas said.

Batomalaque was formerly assigned to the Toledo City Police Station and was transferred to Pinamungajan. He was later reassigned to the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) since last year.

Cebu City Provincial Police Office Director Manuel Abrugena previously said that Batomalaque’s name surfaced in 2016 during the major identification of cops involved in the drug business.

Sinas also confirmed he was included on President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of narco-cops.

Sinas, however, said investigators are not discounting other possible motives like his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

Sinas said that they have also coordinated with police units in ARMM to check if he had problems during the performance of his duty there.

A Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) was formed to focus on Batomalaque’s case.

The group is composed of Toledo City Police Station, Scene of the Crime Operatives and the Provincial headquarters.

“We have created an SITG didto. We are now coordinating sa ARMM as well. We also requested the crime laboratory if naa na’y mo-surface nga facial composite but wala pa’y nigawas,” he said. — MBG (FREEMAN)