Sister of slain Ginatilan councilor cries for justice

CEBU, Philippines — The sister of slain lady councilor in Ginatilan town, southwest Cebu, is crying for justice.

Maria Fema Duterte, the older sister of Maria Liza Toledo who was gunned by still unidentified assailants in front of the Municipal Hall, called on authorities to conduct an in-depth investigation into Toledo’s murder.

Duterte has belied allegations that her sister was involved in illegal drugs, stressing that the latter was not a “drug lord.”

She said their family has been accused of being involved in illegal drug trade since 2001.

“The allegations against my sister and our family are baffling and unfounded,” she said in the vernacular.

Good public servant

Duterte said her sister was a good and helpful public servant.

“She served her constituents well,” she said.

Toledo’s wake is at their residence in Barangay Poblacion in the said town.

She will be laid to rest on March 18.

Not drug-related

Duterte said the possible angles in the killing are rivalry/jealousy, political and personal motives, not drugs.

“I am asking the police for an in-depth investigation into my sister’s murder,” she said.

She said the family has appealed to Senator Bong Go and President Rodrigo Duterte to have an impartial investigation.

A special investigation task group, which is composed of the personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Regional Anti-Cybercrime Group, and Cebu Provincial Police Office, was created to dig deeper into the investigation on Toledo’s death. The creation of the task force was ordered by Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro, director of the Police Regional Office-7.

Based on initial investigation, Ferro said, Toledo is included in the drug matrix as Maria Liza Dumaboc.

Toledo, a neophyte lawmaker, was reportedly included in the president’s list of narco-politicians.

The tag reportedly started when Toledo’s former common-law partner and alleged big-time drug personality, Norbert Antiquando, was arrested in 2001 for drug trafficking.

Antiquando is currently serving his sentence at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

At present, police are considering illegal drugs, political rivalry and business as motives behind the killing.

Toledo was reportedly the rice supplier of a business inside the Penal Colony in Abuyog, Leyte.

With “heated political rivalry” between different political groups in the said town, Ferro said, they are not discounting such angle.

Ferro said all motives are still subject for further validation.  KQD (FREEMAN)