The newly installed director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) assured protection for 10 witnesses to the murder of businesswoman Claire Diergos.
In an interview on IMT Conversations, Police Colonel Adrian Acollador said security measures have been in place to protect the witnesses.
“We are assuring them of their securities, wag silang matakot kasi para naman ito sa justice ng bik ima,” he said.
According to Acollador, so far, none of the witnesses received any threat after the IPPO filed criminal complaints before the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
The respondents in the complaints, based on radio reports, included former San Dionisio, Iloilo mayor Peter Paul Lopez, his wife Sally Lopez and sons Felix Paul Lopez, Carlos Paul Lopez and Christian Paul Lopez.
Lawyer Dwight Trasadas, legal counsel of the Lopez family, believes that the complaints filed by the IPPO will not progress.
“In criminal prosecution, bal-an naton cases like this will not survive in court. Sa Prosecutor’s Office pa lang gani, indi na ini makatapak first base the way I look at it,” he said.
Trasadas urged the IPPO’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) to “conduct further investigation.”
“Kung sin-o dapat ang may liability, siya ang pasabton naton. Indi nga kun sin-o lang nga fall guy.”
Diergos was found lifeless inside her abandoned sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Barangay Inangayan, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo on October 26, 2021.IMT
Photo of Acollador by Radyo Bandera-Iloilo
