Alleged recruiter may help probers track down other suspects in Demafelis murder – CIDG
Despite her voluntary appearance before the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Agnes Tuballes, the alleged recruiter of murdered overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Joanna Demefelis, is still not “off the hook.”
According to CIDG chief Dir. Roel Obusan, Tuballes remains included as one of four personalities still being probed by the PNP in relation to the recruitment and deployment of Demafelis to Kuwait.
Aside from Tuballes, also being investigated according to Obusan are Ara Midtimbang, a Kuwait-based Filipina who had asked Tuballes to recruit potential OFWs for deployment, and Mariz Asanji, an employee of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Global E-Human Resources Inc.who allegedly processed Demafelis’ deployment papers.
Obusan, however, clarified that Tuballes voluntarily presented herself to the authorities and is not considered a suspect.
Obusan said Tuballes could help probers track down other suspects who were involved in the recruitment of Demafelis.
“Wala kaming legal hold sa kanya to detain or put her here behind bars. Ang status ni Agnes is nagseek siya ng magandang forum na maibigay niya ang kanyang side. And she ran to CIDG,” Obusan said in a press conference.
(We do not have a legal basis to detain or put her here behind bars. She ran to the CIDG to seek a proper forum to explain her side.)
“Hindi siya sumuko kasi hindi siya fugitive. Siya ay nagbigay ng way na makapunta sa CIDG sa Baguio,” he added.
(She did not surrender because she is not a fugitive. She was the one who found a way to reach out to the CIDG in Baguio.)
Obusan said the CIDG is willing to provide Tuballes with protection in the possibility that she may receive threats to her life.
“She’s not yet asking [for protection] but definitely we will give protection habang [while] we are trying to unearth everything we need her kasi kailangan natin makausap yung mga binanggit niya [because we need to talk to the people she mentioned],” he said.
Tuballes sought the help of the CIDG on Tuesday to clear her name after being tagged in the media as Demafelis’ alleged recruiter. /muf
READ: Alleged recruiter rejects ‘suspect’ tag in Demafelis slay
