Cebu City police defend themselves against insinuations that they conducted a haphazard investigation to protect someone over the case of Rhea Mae Tocmo, who was found inside a box along the road in Katipunan Extension, Barangay Tisa, Cebu City last July.
Police Major Angelito Valleser assured that the Labangon police worked tirelessly to find the perpetrator who was identified as Simeon Gabutero, 22, the victim’s boyfriend who admitted to the crime.
“Muingon sila na gidali sa pulis kay naay gustong tagoan. Unsa may tagoan namo na ang tanan ebidensya nagtudlo man ni Simeon [Some are saying that the police conducted a careless investigation to protect someone. What is there to hide when all evidence is pointing to Simeon],” said Valleser in a press briefing on Thursday.
Valleser said investigators have gathered enough evidence and witnesses to prove Gabutero involvement in the crime even without its admission.
Gabutero signed an affidavit of extra-judicial admission in which he admitted choking Tocmo to death out of jealously.
“We have the DNA test, we have witnesses. His mother testified that she saw a carton in his room. His younger brother admitted that they were together when they threw a carton although he didn’t know that it contained the victim’s body,” said Valleser.
He had presented a collection of surveillance footage to the media showing the sequence of events when Gabutero and his younger brother disposed of the carton containing the body.
“That’s why our investigation lasted for three weeks until it came to a point that Simeon executed an extra-judicial confession,” said Valleser.
“I told him we don’t care with your admission because we have enough evidence,” he added.
