PRO-7: Probe on some killings 'on hold' for lack of witnesses

CEBU, Philippines — The Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 has admitted putting on hold cases under investigation due to lack of witnesses, despite its recent achievement in clinching the top spot in solving crimes.

PRO-7 Chief Debold Sinas revealed to The FREEMAN’s online show “The FREEMAN Conversations” that homicide cases with no updates are classified as “suspense file”.

He belied that cops are sitting on the cases, but are rather having a hard time due to the uncooperative community, or lack of hard evidence in figuring the assailants’ identity.

“Wala na namo giyak-an ang mga kaso sa pagpamatay nga nahitabo.  We have what you call as suspense file, does not necessarily mean on hold but nakatambay lang just in case nga naa na updates,” Sinas said.

Sinas explained it is a tedious job looking for clues in some cases. Investigators have to start from scratch especially those murder cases where the victim is not from the area.

He emphasized that in order to solve murder cases, whose assailants are unknown, probers have to go and check the background of the victim to start with the investigation.

From there, investigators would be checking the victim’s links and other matters that the victim may have been involved with to know what triggered the killing.

But due to lack of witnesses, some of the cases remain unsolved.

Asked if the lack witnesses was part of the drawbacks after Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena’s has accused that the police are involved in some of the killings, Sinas said he could not blame the public but urged them to help solve the pending cases.

“I urge everyone, especially kato naa nahibaw-an in certain cases.  Help your police, give us details to the incident, because witness accounts are really important,” Sinas said.

Recently, PRO-7 bagged the award as the best police regional office for September in crime solution efficiency with 78.782 percent or 28,828 crimes solved in both index and non-index.

The period covers for January to September 2018.

Sinas also assured that it will motivate the police to work harder and solve pending cases. (FREEMAN)