Two weeks’ time

It was on January 22 when San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya and company were ambushed in Barangay Linao, Talisay City. The incident left her a widow and also killed two of her trusted staff. As the investigation took place, the special investigation task group kept on telling the members of the media that there are already persons of interest and that they already acquired CCTV footage. Two weeks later, the public is still clueless as to who the suspects are.

Remember that the case became the object of the eye of the chief of the Philippine National Police, Director General Oscar Albayalde? He gave the officials in Central Visayas two weeks to solve the case. As of this writing, the latest update that we have is the invitation of certain persons who may have been instrumental in the ambush. I don't think two weeks is enough for the investigators to complete their task.

There are so many angles to look into, politics being one of the major motives. Both the Reluyas are seeking for a public post in the town of San Fernando. The town has been controversial also as it is where self-confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones comes from. The couple also has personal businesses. As the story unfolds, the public also deserves to know the update in this mind-boggling incident.

Why hide if there is a breakthrough? We are told many times of this word "breakthrough" but there is nothing concrete that we are hearing from police officials. It seems like they are beating around the bush just to give the media an update. If they are on their toes working, a name should have come up by now as a prime suspect. Even Albayalde cited the Batocabe case which was solved in two weeks.

Of course, we don't want anybody to be just pulled out from the streets as a fall guy. We want the truth too, but it just seems like it is taking a very long time. If there are several police units on the case, is two weeks really not enough for them to produce a suspect? We all deserve to know and a media blackout does not help at all.

More importantly, people want to know if they are safe. The people of San Fernando at this time are still in fear over what happened to their officials. Shooting incidents have been happening in the town and areas beside it. We all deserve a safe Cebu.

I'm curious if there is anything the police will reveal today as the two-week deadline passes. I understand that there is such a thing as confidentiality that may hamper the investigation but we all want to know what's going on. Maybe the public can help in pointing out whom to blame or even give leads about the gunmen. Unless, of course, the police are hiding something, which I pray and hope is not the case.