Slain agent a huge loss to PDEA

CEBU, Philippines - The death of Jessie Tabanao, the slain agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), is a big loss to the organization, PDEA-7 director Lyndon Aspacio said.

“His position as an information officer of PDEA plays a vital role in our anti-drug efforts. Setback ang kanyang pagkawala hindi lang sa region 7 but in the whole PDEA,” he said.

Aspacio said PDEA-7 is conducting a parallel investigation, wherein they will mainly help the police, who is the lead agency investigating the case, by providing them with information related to Tabanao’s job.

“Now, we’re trying to reconstruct all of the activities and dealings and conversations of Jessie Tabanao prior to the incident,” he said.

Initially, Aspacio said they did not know any enemies or threats against their former agent, who was also a former radio broadcaster.

So far, with their own investigation ongoing, Aspacio said they see Tabanao’s job as a PDEA-7 agent as the strong motive behind his murder.

Aspacio, who assumed as head of the PDEA-7 just last Friday, said he has not yet detected any misunderstanding or unhealthy competition among the agents, which was also suspected as a possible motive behind Tabanao’s death.

“But pagdating sa trabaho namin, may professional rivalry talaga, which I think is a healthy sign,” he added.

Despite what happened to their colleague, the PDEA-7 director said this will not stop them from doing their job.

“This will not discourage us from accomplishing our missions, bagkus, magpapalakas ito sa aming drive to really do our work,” Aspacio stressed.

Aside from PDEA agents sent to escort Tabanao’s wife, Katrina, PDEA-7 will also extend financial assistance to the family, he said.

Meanwhile, the remains of Tabanao was transported to his hometown in Moalboal yesterday where he will be laid to rest before the end of the month.

At about 12:45 pm, the hearse carrying Tabanao’s remains pulled out from St. Peter Memorial chapel.

From there, the convoy stopped in front of the PDEA-7 office, where he last went to get his things, shortly before he was gunned down last Friday at Escario St.

“His colleagues in PDEA were outside the office. The hearse just stopped and the coffin was not taken inside the office. After that, we proceeded to our home in Talisay where neighbors on board motorcycles guided the convoy from the corner at the main road leading to our house,” Tabanao’s wife, Katrina, told The Freeman.

She added “four speed cops” escorted the convoy from the memorial chapel to Bulacao, Cebu City.

As planned, after his remains were taken to his home in Lawaan, Talisay City for 30 minutes, he was then brought to his hometown in Moalboal, southwestern part of Cebu, at around 4 in the afternoon where relatives and friends were waiting.

“Tailing behind the hearse, the convoy was composed of a van full of PDEA agents and employees. I also saw a multicab, family car and one truck included as part of the convoy,” described Katrina.

Katrina, who is eight months pregnant, was accompanied by their nine-year old son, Kurt Joshua, and her own family as well as that of Jessie’s.

Tabanao would be laid to rest at the Moalboal cemetery on September 26.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Council yesterday passed a resolution calling for a thorough investigation on the killing of Tabanao.

The resolution, authored by Councilor Gerardo Carillo, also condemned the ambush while also condoling the bereaved family of the former radioman who had worked with Bantay Radyo, Bombo Radyo and most recently DYRC.— (FREEMAN)