Family of slain father, son in Lucena City seek justice before PNP

SEEKING JUSTICE: Christina Riego (left) and Sophia Riego (right) came to the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame from Lucena City to ask for help regarding the murder case of Virgilio and Joseph Riego, husband and son, respectively. They say tthat they lost confidence in the chief of police of Lucena after he allegedly mistreated them. MATIKAS SANTOS/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Family members of a father and son who were killed in Lucena City personally came to the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame Tuesday to seek help because they believed that the police chief in the area was a friend of the alleged suspect in the crime.

Sophia Riego, 60, and her daughter Christina Riego, 33, spoke to the media and to Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz, PNP spokesman, to ask for help regarding the murder of her husband Virgilio Riego, 61 and son Joseph Riego, 27.

She said she decided to come to Manila because she believed that Superintendent Ramon Balauag is a friend of Percival Peredo, their neighbor whom she suspected was the mastermind of the killing.

Virgilio and Joseph were murdered in front of their house in Reymar Compound, Barangay (village) Gulang-gulang, Lucena City, around 10 a.m. of Sept. 4, 2011, by a lone gunman who escaped on a motorcycle.

Sophia said that she was in the kitchen when she heard six shots. She went outside and saw her husband and son lifeless on the ground. She saw the gunman as he was about to ride the motorcycle.

Peredo, whom Sophia saw working on his lawn, arrived on the scene and helped Sophia call for help. Sophia said that he disappeared three days after the wake because he feared for his life.

When Sophia and her daughter approached Balauag, they claimed that they were not treated well. She also told the police that she suspected Peredo was the mastermind.

She told the media that she had seen Balauag talking to Peredo in front of his house a week before the murder took place – the reason why she has lost trust and confidence in the local police.

She said they came to Cruz to personally appeal for justice, citing their lack of trust in the local police. Cruz referred them to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) office where they gave their statements on the murder case.

They will also visit the Internal Affairs Office where their complaint against Balauag would be investigated.