PNP, NBI grilled over slow resolution of OFW’s slay case

Senators on Monday grilled the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over the supposed slow resolution of the killing of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Cavite last month.
At the resumption of the Senate probe on drug-related killings, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV presented a news clip on the death of Mark Anthony Culata.
Culata’s body was found on September 9 with several gunshot wounds in Tanza, Cavite, the video report said. A cardboard labeled “pusher ako” was also seen beside his body.
The report also said Culata was last seen in a police checkpoint before midnight on September 8 as seen in a closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage.
“This is proof of the possibility that this is an extrajudicial killing caught on CCTV,” Trillanes said.
According to the PNP, administrative cases have already been filed against the four policemen who stopped Culata at the checkpoint. The said cops have also been relieved from their posts.
Senator Richard Gordon, however, said the action of the PNP was lacking, saying criminal charges should have already been filed against the policemen involved in the incident.
“To my mind, this is why the poeple are alarmed. Dapat mabilis ang aksyon ... Obviously, dapat nakakulong na ‘yan for murder,” Gordon said.
PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said the NBI is already conducting an investigation on the criminal charges.
Dela Rosa, however, admitted that he was not aware of the incident until Trillanes presented the video at the Senate hearing.
Director Dante Gierran of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said “it was not conclusive” that the policemen killed Culata.
“It’s very clear from the video na last touch ang police pero hindi conclusive na pulis ang pumatay...It would be very rude to assume na pulis ang pumatay dito,” Gierran said.
Senator Leila de Lima, for her part, said the circumstances of the incident “would justify warrantless arrest.”
Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief, noted that there was no ballistics exam result yet.
“Hindi nga bibilis kung hanggang ngayon, wala pang results yung ballistics,” Lacson said.
Reports said authorities were also looking at the love triangle angle, as the partner of one of the sacked policemen was supposedly the victim’s former girlfriend.
“Maari na ‘yung personal na kaaway eh suddenly naging adik tapos biglang pinapatay so yung coincidences, masyadong matingkad eh,” Trillanes said. — RSJ, GMA News

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