THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) will welcome any help from other law enforcement agencies and units that will also investigate the death of lawyer Rafael Atotubo, who was gunned down by two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle outside of his house in Barangay 20 this city on August 23.
Superintendent Levy Pangue, head of Investigation and Detection Management Unit (IDMU), in a press briefing at BCPO headquarters on Thursday, September 6, said other agencies can conduct a separate investigation to avoid a whitewash, in case there is a suspicion that policemen were suspected to be behind the defense lawyer's death.
Atotubo's family earlier told the media they have lost their trust in the police investigation. But Pangue said they can also refer the case to other agencies for a parallel investigation.
Pangue said they will provide whatever strong evidence they have to these agencies to also support their own investigation.
Pangue also said lawyer Arnel Lapore, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Negros Chapter went to BCPO and told them to fast-track the investigation.
Pangue said they are also maximizing their efforts to solve the case as soon as possible.
At present, the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) created to focus on Atotubo's murder case is 40 percent complete in their investigation.
Pangue said they have gathered 20 drug cases from Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 47 which were handled by Atotubo since 2004.
"From these cases, we will be able to trace his clients and other people involved in those cases that may lead to solving his death," he added.
He also said copies of closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) footage from nearby establishments were already provided to them.
Pangue added the investigation will take time but they will do their best to solve it as early as possible.
"This is hard but we can focus on some significant details if the family cooperates with the authorities," he said.
Earlier, the family already told the police they will turn over the copy of the CCTV footage at the victim's house and his cellular phone to Police Station 4 but as of press time, the victim's family still failed to provide them with the said materials that can be used as evidence in the crime.
"We need the victim's cellular phone to check if he had previous threats," Pangue said.
Pangue said the case investigator of Police Station 4 attempted to meet with the family three times to discuss the investigation.
Despite the alleged non-cooperation of the victim's family, Pangue said they will still continue with the investigation and use the available evidence.
Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Sherlock Gabana, public information officer of BCPO, said they will keep on communicating with the family for the success of the investigation.
The BCPO continues to study all possible angles on the incident, including the work and business of Atotubo. (GYM)