ILOILO – The family of Claire Diergos, the businesswoman found dead in Barangay Inangayan, Santa Barbara town over a month ago, has not requested assistance from other law enforcement agencies like the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the case, too.
“Nakita man sang pamilya nga grabe aton trabaho kag asikaso sang kaso,” said Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
Coordination between the special investigation team (SIT) and the family, particularly Diergos’ sister, Clyde Diergos-Rivera, has been consistent, said Gorero.
But how far has the investigation gone?
Three “credible” witnesses knew the “whos and hows”, according to Gorero, but they have yet to sign their affidavits.
“We assure their safety,” Gorero told Panay News yesterday.
Gorero also considered posting his men in the homes of the witnesses “para wala may matandog sa ila.”
The IPPO director said these witnesses would help corroborate the statements of other witnesses.
This would make the case stronger, said Gorero.
The SIT recently met with prosecutors, hoping to file a complaint against the suspects. But the bid flopped because of “missing links” and uncorroborated circumstantial evidences.
“We are hoping nga mangisog na ang aton tatlo ka witnesses. Indi ta pag isugal nga ma-file ang kaso nga wala sang mabakod nga evidence and credible witnesses. Nagapangayo kita sang paghangop sang publiko. Wala kami nagapabaya sa kaso,” Gorero stressed.
Diergos was found dead in her sport utility vehicle around 3 p.m. on Oct. 26. She had multiple stab wounds: two on the neck, five on the left hand and two on the right hand. Her throat was slashed.
On Oct. 29, the police’s scene of the crime operatives (SOCO) conducted a luminol acid test in Diergo’s house.
Blood traces were spotted on the floor, wall, bed, blanket of her three-year-old daughter, table, wall of the comfort room, Diergos’ dressing room, and the cover of the washing machine.
A closed-circuit television footage showed Diergos’ Montero Sport leaving Deca Homes at 4:20 a.m. on Oct. 25.
The police believed Diergos knew her killers, and they were “no ordinary people.”/PN
