THE Cagayan Police Provincial Office (PPO) on Saturday vowed no stones will be left unturned in their ongoing investigation of a deadly December 5 shooting incident inside a bar in Lal-lo municipality which left a 29-year-old businessman dead.

The killing of Jefferson Torricer, a resident of Bgy. Poblacion in Penarrubia, Abra, inside the Veranda Resto Bar in Bgy. Magapit, Lal-lo has become the subject of a political controversy amid innuendoes implicating Gattaran Mayor Matthew Nolasco to the incident.

However, investigators said witnesses have testified that Nolasco was not in the area when the shooting took place. The police investigation showed that the victim and his companions were drinking in the bar when a commotion erupted, and the businessman was shot by an unidentified man who immediately fled on foot towards an unknown direction.

The victim died while being taken to a local hospital.

Members of the Lal-lo Municipal Police Station led by Major Jefferson Mucay recovered a caliber 9mm semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing 12 live ammunition and a cal. .45 bullet at the scene.

A follow-up investigation inside the same bar the next day resulted in the recovery of another chamber-loaded 9mm pistol with a magazine containing eight bullets.

The recovered weapons have been subjected to a cross-matching examination to determine which of them was fired during the December 5 shooting incident.

Nolasco’s brother Ramon Nolasco Jr. of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, retired Police General Roberto Damian of the Nationalista Party and Lakas-CMD’s Katrina Ponce Enrile, a daughter of former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, are seeking the Cagayan 1st District’s congressional seat in the May 2022 election.

“We cannot speak outside facts, evidence and testimonies of witnesses. It’s the reason why I sent my investigators to Abra with proper coordination and orders to show to the family of the victim that we are very fair in our investigation and we will see to it that justice will be served and whoever is responsible for the killing of Torricer will be charged in court,” Cagayan PPO director, Colonel Renell R. Sabaldica.

The Cagayan PPO has been ordered by Police Regional Office 2 director, Brigadier General Steve B. Ludan to ensure that an airtight case will be filed against any suspect/s on the basis of complete pieces of evidence and witnesses to the crime.

“The Philippine National Police is mandated to enforce the law without fear or favor, prevent and control crimes, maintain peace and order, and ensure public safety and internal security. Police Regional Office 2 and its police station in the municipalities and cities remained true to their mission and function and has not departed from their duties and obligations,” said the Cagayan PPO in a press statement.

“Criminal investigation is an indispensable tool in solving crimes that threaten the peace, safety, and the lives of our citizens. It should be thorough, independent, and methodical in order to ferret out the truth and identify, apprehend, and convict the perpetrator. The same should not be prejudiced by hearsays, speculations, and conjectures,” he added.

Sabaldica said the killing of Torricer is now the subject of several surmises and conjectures widely circulated specially in the social media platforms.

“As mandated by their duty, Lallo Police Station, Lallo, Cagayan acquired and acknowledged jurisdiction over the incident in order to collect information and evidence. This is supported by the investigation reports, ballistic examination, firearms verification, and postmortem examination/autopsy report,” he explained.

Sabaldica said he is following orders for a thorough follow-up investigation of the case. He sent his men to the residence of the victim where his wake is being held to conduct further investigation and interview the companions and witnesses during that fateful night.

“However, the victim’s family, through his Aunt, Mrs. Melba Hacunita, pleaded that they be allowed to mourn for their loss first and bury the victim before focusing on their plan of action. They, however, assured to cooperate in the investigation of the case. This is supported by the police blotter certifications issued by Peñarrubia Municipal Police Station,” he said.

Sabaldica said the investigation of the case has yet to be completed in deference to the plea of the victim’s family.

“It has not been stalled nor was it delayed due to the alleged involved persons or perpetrators. The perpetrators are yet to be identified and determined through the help of the victim’s relatives and companions who witnessed that unfortunate incident,” he said.

“Therefore, there is no basis for the accusations hurled against the PNP personnel that they are involved in the cover up and has betrayed their duty and obligation for the sake of a single individual,” he emphasized.

“We would like to assure the public, specially the victim’s family, that we are exerting all efforts and leaving no stone unturned to ferret out the truth behind death of Torricer and bring the perpetrators to justice. The investigation of the case shall be conducted independently and without any bias and will not be influenced by anybody either the alleged perpetrators or their nemesis,” he added.