MYSTERIOUS DEATH: Cops probe 2 persons of interest in electric coop manager’s slay

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) is digging deeper into the killing of a lawyer and general manager of Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) in Negros Occidental, early morning of Dec. 21, 2022.

Atty. Danny Pondevilla, 47, of Barangay Mansilingan here, was found lifeless with a lone gunshot wound in the nape on the driver’s seat of his car parked on 16th Lacson Street, Barangay 7 here past 12 am Wednesday.

Police Lieutenant Jonito Pastrana, head of Police Station 2, said the victim was shot by two unidentified persons on a motorcycle, based on the allegation of his executive secretary, who was with him when the incident happened.

Prior to that, Pastrana said the victim’s secretary alleged that she tried to convince the victim that she will be driving the car because the latter was already drunk after they attended a Christmas party in a hotel here.

But she also alleged that Pondevilla insisted on driving until the perpetrators shot him when he opened the door of the driver’s side for the third time to vomit.

Police recovered from the scene Pondevilla’s caliber .9mm gun with an empty magazine, a slug and a fired bullet of .45-caliber ammunition.

But Pastrana raised some questions regarding the statements of Pondevilla’s secretary considering the circumstances at the crime scene.

One of which was that the fired bullet was recovered on the front passenger’s side.

Pastrana also said that the vehicle had no damage or bullet holes.

He said that security guards in the area also did not hear a gunshot or even saw a motorcycle in the area when it happened.

“The bullet exited through the victim’s left face. Since the victim was already drunk, could he still remember to use a seatbelt?” Pastrana asked.

He said that Pondevilla’s hands were also tied to the seatbelt when police arrived, contrary to what the secretary said that the victim opened the door on the driver’s side to vomit.

He also questioned the disappearance of the secretary, along with the victim’s cellular phone minutes after the police arrived at the crime scene. She then reappeared three hours later.

He also said that the secretary turned over the victim’s cellular phone to the latter’s sister, and deleted their conversation and messages.

“Normal na bala tanan?” he asked.

Pastrana said they will submit the cellular phone to the Cybercrime Division to check if there’s a chance to retrieve the deleted conversation between Pondevilla and the secretary.

Despite these questions, Pastrana said they could not establish the perpetrators yet, as they need to further investigate the case.

He added they have other issues which they could not divulge yet.

“Everybody sa palibot, considering the circumstances leads to two persons of interest,” he said, adding that “it appears na may conspiracy.”

Pastrana said that these two persons of interest were the victim’s secretary and another person, whom she called for help and picked her up when the incident happened. Both of them were subjected to a paraffin test.

“Wala ta kabalo, puwede man basi gin kulbaan siya (secretary), nagpanic siya kag ang laki ang gintawgan niya una. May kabudlayan man ta kay abi ko may dashcam ang salakyan, pero wala gali,” he said.

Meanwhile, Police Colonel Thomas Joseph Martir, BCPO director, said they will extract all closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage from all establishments that captured the car driven by Pondevilla before the shooting happened.

Martir said they are exploring all angles, but he mentioned that they are looking into work-related or something personal as possible motives behind the killing.

He added that Pondevilla had threats based on the information that police have gathered, but he did not elaborate.

He said that Pondevilla’s brother, who is a retired policeman, and their sister are helping the police in the investigation.

“Imbestigaran ta pa gid kay may possible smudges man na or gunpowder,” Martir said.

Pondevilla had also served as project supervisor and acting general manager of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) here.

In a statement, Noneco, said they are deeply saddened by such a tragedy.

“Words cannot describe what we feel as of the moment,” the firm said.

On the other hand, the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (Philreca) expressed its heartfelt condolences to the family of Pondevilla.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, Philreca said that his passing is a great loss to Noneco and the whole Rural Electrification Movement.

“His dedication and passion will forever remain as an example to us and to all advocates of the movement. We fervently hope that his family’s faith remains steadfast during these trying times,” they said.

“We lost a friend, a strong advocate of the movement, and a loyal Warrior of Light. His dedication will forever be an inspiration to us,” Philreca said.