MANILA, Philippines–The police official who was identified by tabloid reporter Rubylita Garcia as the brains behind her attack minutes before she died has been relieved from his post.
Superintendent Conrado Villanueva, Tanza Cavite Police station chief, was placed on administrative relief after the statement of Garcia.
Senior Superintendent Joselito Esquivel Jr., Cavite Provincial Police director, ordered the relief after a witness claimed that Garcia uttered Villanueva’s name before her death.
As Garcia was rushed to the hospital, her 28-year-old son, Tristan, said his mother struggled to tell him who was the person behind her attack at her home in Bacoor, Cavite last Sunday.
Esquivel assured in a statement on Monday that Villanueva is willing to face further investigation as warranted by evidence.
Taking over the Tanza police station chief post is Superintendent Joseph Javier, Cavite Deputy Provincial Director.
Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, Philippine National Police Public Information Office chief, said that based on the initial investigation, Villanueva allegedly had an argument with the reporter.
”Just recently, the Tanza chief (Villanueva) was conducting a meeting with the Salaam police. Garcia was asking if she could have a word with Villanueva, but he wasn’t able to attend to her immediately,” he said.
After the misunderstanding, a verbal spat ensued, said Sindac, noting that the meeting probably happened just last Friday or Saturday.
He added that the relief of Villanueva will be effective until investigators come up with results on Garcia’s death.
“This is to ensure that he will not in any way influence the ongoing investigation so he was placed on administrative relief pending the results of the investigation of the team,” Sindac said.
Earlier Monday, police released an artist’s sketch of the suspected gunman who fatally shot Garcia.
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