ILOILO City – Can the new Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director, Police Colonel Eric Dampal, achieve what his predecessor, Police Colonel Martin Defensor, failed to do – solve and/or prevent killings mostly involving riding-in-tandem assassins?
A “big challenge” was how Dampal described this task right after yesterday’s turnover ceremony at the ICPO headquarters on General Luna Street.
There were “so many things to do”, he said, but with “the help of the men and women of ICPO and the community” he would be “fine.”
Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police director, specifically mentioned the still unsolved killing in Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz district of young businessman Delfin Britanico, son of former assemblyman Salvador “Buddy” Britanico, just this Jan. 19.
“I take the challenge of our regional director,” said Dampal, 54, a native of Bukidnon and member of the Philippine National Police Academy – Class 1992.
When Dampal’s predecessor Defensor took over the ICPO directorship on Sept. 12, 2018 he vowed to solve killings involving riding-in-tandem assassins and prevent more of such incidents from happening. But just six months into his directorship, five such incidents took place, and several more happened in succeeding months including Britanico’s – and all remained unsolved as of yesterday, Feb. 20, when Defensor left the city police office.
Four other slay cases that happened just before Defensor became the ICPO director also remain unsolved up to today. The ICPO director then was Police Colonel Henry Biñas, now the director of the Bacolod City Police Office.
“You have to solve the Britanico case. I want you to use all your resources. I will help you,” Pamuspusan told Dampal yesterday.
The order to solve the Britanico slay case came from Malacañang. Former assemblyman Britanico sought the help of President Rodrigo Duterte who in turn ordered the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation to act.
Pamuspusan also reminded Dampal to enforce “what the PNP chief, General Archie Francisco Gamboa, wanted to do – the ‘no take policy’ and discipline of policemen.”
“I want you to take these seriously,” said Pamuspusan.
Just last week Pamuspusan warned policemen against accepting payola or protection money from illegal gambling operators.
“Policemen who violate this ‘no take’ policy will be facing dire consequences,” he said.
Administrative charges would be filed, according to Pamuspusan, which could lead to an erring policeman’s dismissal from the service.
But not just payola from illegal gambling, according to the police director. Policemen must refrain from taking bribe money from whatever illegal activities.
Pamuspusan said Dampal had “big shoes to fill”.
“I’m satisfied of the performance of the former city police director. I hope you do better,” said Pamuspusan.
Dampal welcomed the reminders.
“Gagawin natin ang lahat para maging mabuti ang ang ating pamamahala sa ICPO. I have to study all unsolved cases,” said Dampal, former director of the Compostela Valley Police Provincial Office who also had a stint at the Police Regional Office 11 or Davao Region.
For starters, Dampal said, he would be intensifying police visibility for crime deterrence.
“We have to deploy more policemen to the field,” he said.
UNSOLVED CASES
The unsolved slays under Defensor’s watch were the following:
* Oct. 5, 2018 – Neil Resma, 38, of Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao district was shot in Barangay Calubihan, Jaro district
* Nov. 7, 2018 – Marvin Vasquez, 34, of Zone 3, Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao was shot in Barangay Taft North, Mandurriao
* Nov. 19, 2018 – Retired Senior Police Officer II Rolando Alag was shot in Barangay Villa Anita, City Proper while driving his van
* Nov. 24, 2018 – Nestor Piagola Jr., 33, of Barangay Zamora-Melliza, Iloilo City was shot on Rima-Rizal Street, City Proper
* March 2, 2019 – Lhuil Clemente, 40, of Barangay East Baluarte, Molo district was shot on Mabini Street, City Proper
* May 21, 2019 – Tristan Zachary Eribal, 19, of Barangay Caingin, La Paz district was shot and stabbed in Barangay Balabago, Jaro
* May 21, 2019 – Jimrod Eribal, 22, of Barangay San Isidro, Jaro was shot and stabbed in Barangay Balabago, Jaro
* June 8, 2019 – Allan Salario, 51, of Barangay Calmay, Janiuay, Iloilo died of gunshot wounds on the head and back at Metropolis Subdivision in Barangay Tagbak, Jaro
* Jan. 19, 2020 – Alain Muller, 42, of Barangay Cuartero, Jaro was shot outside his house
* Jan. 19, 2020 – Delfin Britanico of Barangay Nabitasa, La Paz was shot to death
In a previous interview, Defensor acknowledged the ICPO’s failure to solve murder cases. His men were having a hard time, he said.
“All the assassins covered their faces to hide their identities. Also, no witnesses have surfaced,” said Defensor.
He appealed for public help.
Meanwhile, the four cases that happened during the term of Defensor’s predecessor, Biñas, and still unsolved were the following:
* July 13, 2018 – Ranny Bibanco, 33, of Trance Street, Barangay 2, Tigbauan, Iloilo was shot at the Iloilo Terminal Market
* Sept. 7, 2018 – Don Azucena, 39, of Barangay Calumpang, Molo was shot outside his house
* Sept. 7, 2018 – Rolando Puda, 41, of Barangay Ingore, La Paz district was shot near his house
* Sept. 11, 2018 – Gerardo Mamarion, 25, of Barangay Tacas, Jaro was shot in Zone 4, Barangay Ungka, Jaro
In a telephone interview prior to yesterday’s ICPO turnover of command, Dampal told Panay News his three main thrusts were the campaign against illegal drugs and illegal gambling, and ICPO internal cleansing.
“I’m so particular on internal cleansing, especially the tamang bihis (correct wearing of uniform). It’s nice to see our personnel wearing clean and new uniforms,” said Dampal./PN
