Badian police chief faces probe
The police chief in Badian town, southern Cebu is facing an investigation in relation to complaints that he failed to immediately arrest a barangay councilman accused of fatally shooting a man.
Insp. Reyco Romaguera will have to answer why Malabago barangay councilor Ariel Avenido remains at large after he allegedly shot a 34-year-old man last April 9.
Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, chief of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), ordered the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch to handle the investigation.
Police said the victim, Ariel Avenido, was watching a basketball game when he was shot.
Romaguera said there was no irregularity when Avenido was not immediately arrested.
HOT PURSUIT
The police official said they conducted a hot-pursuit operation after the incident but they failed to locate the suspect.
Romaguera said Avenido had just returned to the barangay but they could no longer arrest him since the two weeks covering the hot pursuit operation had already lapsed.
Romaguera said they could be charged of illegal arrest if they arrested the suspect the moment he returned to the barangay.
It was only last Tuesday that a murder case was filed against the suspect before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors’ Office.
Romaguera said they only secured the needed documents in filing the case last Monday because it took long for Otoc’s parents to file their affidavits./Correspondent Joy Cherry S. Quito
