PNP probes rape-slay suspect’s suicide

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police’s Internal Affairs Service (IAS) has started its investigation of the alleged suicide of a rape-slay suspect in the compound of the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) at Camp Crame on Tuesday, an official said yesterday.

IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said they are in the fact-finding stage of the investigation on the death of Larry Herrera, who admitted to kidnapping, raping and killing an eight-year-old girl in Jaen, Nueva Ecija. He reportedly shot himself using a handgun he grabbed from his police escort.

“They are claiming it was suicide. We are investigating if there was foul play,” Triambulo said in a phone interview.

Herrera, who was in handcuffs, was about to be moved to the detention cell on the building’s second floor when he allegedly grabbed the 9mm pistol of Police Officer 3 Felix Parafina and shot himself. Herrerra was brought by his escorts to the PNP General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Triambulo said their investigation would take about three to four months as it also involves technical examination of the crime scene and the suspect’s body.

“We will look at the trajectory of the bullet,” said Triambulo, adding they are also waiting for the results of the paraffin tests on Herrera and his two escorts.

Triambulo said it is too early to tell what penalties could be imposed against Senior Police Officer 1 Grant Chaluyen and Parafina.

If there is foul play, the two police officers could face dismissal for grave misconduct. However, if suicide is proven but the police officers committed lapses, they could be held liable for neglect of duty.

The penalties, depending on the outcome of the probe, could be suspension for 60 days to dismissal, Triambulo said.

The victim’s family had given Herrera a job as a carpenter, thinking he would change for good, when he got out of the Iwahig Penal Colony on parole after serving 14 years for qualified theft, according to earlier reports.