The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) bared on Wednesday that the assailant of the secretary of former Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez” may have been known to the victim.
Initial investigation by the police on the killing of 57-year-old Lilian del Campo Nieva inside her residence in Deca Homes Talomo, Davao City last Thursday indicated the suspect may have been known to the victim as there was no sign of forcible entry.
Nieva, long-time former secretary of Ramirez, was found lifeless and lying on her bed by her brother Noel Nieva, with several stab wounds on different parts of her body.
The Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) 11 team also conducted a parallel investigation and found out that the victim’s personal belongings such as her IPhone 12 and an undetermined amount of jewelry were missing.
Captain Hazel Tuazon, spokesperson of DCPO, said in the meeting of the “Oplan Siyasat” team on Tuesday, persons of interest (POIs) were already identified and the team is now trying to locate the suspect.
She said that based on the investigation, the suspect was already inside the house prior to the incident because there was no forcible entry.
The team is now trying to get additional CCTV footage that can help in the investigation.
“In the meeting, gipresent ang nahiaguman na stab wounds sa biktima and possible kung asa ni exit ang suspect kay nakita during sa investigation na walay forcible entry. So possible na kaila sa victim ang suspect. Sa first meeting naa nata’y persons of interest ug gipaningkamutan sa team na ma locate ning suspect,” she said during the AFP PNP Press Corps media briefing on Wednesday at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.
Tuazon said the brother of the victim affirmed that his sister, who was separated from her partner and had no children, has no known enemies.
Meanwhile, DCPO is also current investigating the alleged disappearance of 21-year-old Justine Mae Saldua, a helper employed by then Toril Police Station Commander Police Major Michael Uyanguren, since August 29, 2023.
Tuazon said the investigation team led by the City Investigation and Detective Management Unit (CIDMU), questioned the employer of Saldua and Uyanguren’s daughter. The team also reached out to the parents of Saldua.
She added that the investigators are looking at various angles of the case including the possiblity that Uyanguren had bumped into big personalities in the cases he’s involved with. She said Uyanguren is one of the most accomplished station commanders in the city.
“Ang atong mga station commanders daghan na sila nabangga na mga dagko na tao so part of the investigation is ang involvement ni sir Uyanguren sa mga kaso niya and ang iyahang mga accomplishments,” she said.
Tuazon confirmed that Uyanguren, who was already relieved from his post, is willing to undergo a polygraph test to help in the resolution of the case.
According to the record of the police, Saldua has been in her job as a helper for one week. Tuazon said part of the investigation is to determine if Saldua has prior employers.
Saldua has three children. One has passed away.
The issue exploded after Saldua’s parents, Jimmy and Maria Lourdes, appeared during Senator Tulfo’s program “Wanted sa Radyo”, which was aired on September 28, 2023.
“Ang city director (Lupaz) nihatag ug assurance na walay bias sa kauban namo na officer na involved aning nga isyu. Ang DCPO is open for any investigation kung asa muduol ang katong family sa alleged missing helper,” Tuazon said.
The Davao police have become the subject of criticism and bashing on social media because of the series of crime incidents happening in the city, however, Tuazon assured that these negative comments would not affect their performance.
“Kanang mga gi-post sa social media pila na sa mga incidents na giatubang nato sa DCPO. Pila lang na sila pero naa tay incidents na gi-focusan sa atoang mga kapulisan. Davao City is not gamay na syudad ug daghan mga kaso na angayan tagaan ug pagtagad. Tanang post sa social media wala namo na ginabalewala kay gina aksyunan pud namo na. Wala na naka apekto sa amoa ang social media padayon gihapon mi sa paghatag ug serbisyo sa katawhan,” she said.
