(UPDATED) -- Two days before its deadline to solve the ambush of San Fernando Mayor Lakambini "Neneth" Reluya and her companions, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 chief said they now have a suspect.
Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas said they are now on the heels of the suspects but they will not reveal the names yet.
"This is our stand. We have already the prime suspect, we have conducted investigations and we also hava a diagram but we will not present it to the media until we have presented it to the family. It will be unfair to the family and unfair to the victims that they will know about it through the media," he said.
Mayor Reluya and two of her aides survived the ambush in Barangay Linao, Talisay City last Jan. 22. Her husband, San Fernando Association of Barangay Councils president and Councilor Ricardo "Nonoy" Reluya Jr. and two other aides did not make it.
Sinas said the Reluya family and the families of the other victims identified as Allan Bayot and Ricky Monterona should be informed first of the killers' identities.
"Our approach is we have to talk to the Reluya family because we'll see, maybe they have something to add. Then that's the time (we will reveal the names), whether or not they will join us in a press con. For now, we won't reveal it yet because they might wonder why they weren't given time even though they are the family," he said.
A day after the attack, Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde gave local police in Cebu 14 days to solve the killing.
In an interview in Oslob town on Sunday, Feb. 3, Sinas said he already talked to Albayalde and the chief is satisfied with their ongoing investigation.
"We have already updated the Chief PNP. The last time we talked to him I think he was amenable and satisfied with our ongoing investigation," he said.
"A deadline is a deadline but we would not compromise the investigation because of the deadline," he added.
Sinas said they are waiting for the mayor to return to reveal to her the name of the prime suspect.
Mayor Reluya is still in Dipolog City where her husband, Nonoy, was buried.
"We'll send her security and then we'll present it to her," he said.
