Azurin commends Mimaropa cops for solving rape-slay case
INVESTIGATORS from the Police Regional Office 4-B have solved the case of a saleslady who went missing only to be discovered dead and a victim of rape-slay in Puerto Princesa City, earning them congratulations from Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr.
The top cop lauded the men and women of the PRO4-B headed by Brigadier Gen. Sydney S. Hernia for working overtime to solve the case of 22-year-old Jovelyn Galleno who mysteriously disappeared last August 5.
Last Wednesday, a criminal complaint for rape with homicide was forwarded to the Puerto Princesa City Prosecutor’s Office by the local police against the two suspects who were said to be relatives of the victim.
One of the two was believed to have raped the victim before killing her while the other acted as a ‘lookout.’
“This is a breakthrough for the case despite complications along the way, our police personnel were never discouraged to resolve this crime. Now that we have suspects, the wheel of justice is moving forward,” Azurin said.
The victim was last seen getting out of a public transport vehicle from a shopping mall in Barangay San Manuel, Puerto Princesa City.
Amid a continuing search for the victim, police last August 23 recovered skeletal remains with garments said to be belonging to the victim near a ravine in Purok Pulang Lupa, Bgy. Sta. Lourdes.
“One of the suspects who admitted his involvement in the crime pointed the location of the skeletal remains near a ravine and enabled us to solve the case,” said Brig. Gen. Hernia.
According to the Mimaropa police director, DNA samples taken from the skeletal remains matched with the samples of Jovelyn’s mother during a DNA examination conducted by the PNP Forensic Group.
“Since this case has been submitted to a competent prosecutor’s office already, the PNP trusts in the system that it will appreciate the collated pieces of evidence pushing the case further. We will let the judicial proceeding take its course,” Azurin said as he lauded the police personnel who worked double hard to help resolve the case of the missing woman.
The PNP also welcomed a parallel probe into the case by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following a request from the victim’s family.
“We welcome the parallel investigation since we have a common goal of achieving justice. We don’t interfere in the decision of the family but we can assure that the PNP is determined to resolve the case,” PNP Public Information Office chief, Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus B. Alba said in a press statement.
