Lawyer urged: Cooperate in probe

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Police Office director Police Colonel Gemma Vinluan is asking Atty. Inocencio dela Cerna to cooperate in the investigation to identify the people behind the foiled attempt on his life Monday morning.

Vinluan lamented that dela Cerna remains uncooperative as of yesterday.  She said it is difficult to start an investigation without the full cooperation of the victim.

"Hanggang ngayon wala pa kaming official na affidavit niya. Hindi kasi siya nakikipag cooperate," Vinluan told reporters.

She said the lawyer only gave them backgrounds of two possible suspects but provided no names.

 "Actually nagbigay siya sa amin ng dalawa pero hindi siya nagbigay ng name," Vinluan said.

 “Kahit man lang mga allegations niya atleast meron tayong sisimulan na imbestigahan," Vinluan added.

Dela Cerna said there may be miscommunication because he had always been cooperative. He said he will send a copy of his affidavit to Vinluan today.

Vinluan, however, said they are giving dela Cerna a leeway because of the traumatic experience he had last Monday. Dela Cerna survived an attempt on his life after shooting it out with his attackers.

The veteran lawyer was exiting from the Qimonda Building that houses the Cebu City courts when unidentified gunman fired at him. Dela Cerna drove his Toyota Land Cruiser to the nearest police station but his attacker followed suit until he was caught in a red light at the junction near Robinsons Galeria.

Dela Cerna said the situation called for him to draw his gun and fight back. He said he fired at his attacker until the latter withdrew from pursuing him.         

Expired Guns

Vinluan said they checked on the records of dela Cerna at the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) and found three guns registered under his name that were already expired.

"Nung pina-check namin ang mga firearms na naka issue kay attorney dela Cerna, meron na siyang tatlong unlicensed firearms," Vinluan said.

He urged dela Cerna to surrender the firearms for safekeeping while the renewal of the registrations is being processed.

"Katulad ng ginagawa namin sa OPLAN katok, ini-encourage namin sila na i-turn over nila sa amin yung baril at ipa-custody muna for a while, i-safe keep hanggang hindi pa sila naka pag renew, once na makapag-renew, ibabalik na yun sa kanila," Vinluan explained.

Asked on the possibility that dela Cerna may have used one of the three unlicensed guns during last Monday’s incident, Vinluan said they do not want to make an issue out of it.

“Hindi natin gusto na pag-initan yung baril na ginamit niya. Kasi kahit sino siguro kahit siguro ako, kahit paltik yan gamitin ko pang depensa sa sarili ko," Vinluan said.

The police official urged dela Cerna to immediately process the renewal of the registration of his guns considering that he is facing a serious threat to his life.

Vinluan said she has already deployed police personnel at the vicinity of dela Cerna’s residence to secure him and his family. — FPL (FREEMAN)