Special team to probe cop’s slay

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Calatrava Municipal Police Station in Negros Occidental is looking for witnesses and other pieces of evidence that can help them establish the link of some personalities to the death of a policeman.

Police Major Roberto Indiape Jr., town police chief, said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed by the station to focus on the murder of Police Staff Sergeant John Daniel Gotera, 37, of Barangay Buluangan, San Carlos City, who was assigned to Toboso Municipal Police Station.

Indiape said they had a case conference with the investigator of Toboso Municipal Police Station, as well as its head Police Captain Kenneth Paul Magan yesterday to discuss various information they received that can help them in the investigation.

Indiape said they have no witnesses that can connect the possible involvement of some personalities in Gotera’s death.

Indiape said that based on the information they received, these personalities involved in illegal drugs or wanted persons could be those who were previously arrested or subjected by Gotera to a police operation, thus may have exacted revenge on the cop.

 

They must also validate the information backed up with witnesses and other evidence to establish the connection.

 

“Indi man puwede na hearsay lang, at least may idea lang ta kung sin-o na mga persona na puwede ma connect,” he added.

Magan earlier said that Gotera had been receiving work-related threats, according to his sibling.

Indiape said the SIT has one month to investigate the case, but if there’s no progress, the case will be forwarded to the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) here for them to lead the probe.

Gotera, who was doing an undercover task against wanted persons, was walking at Barangay Patun-an, when he was reportedly tailed by the gunman and shot at close range last Sunday.

He suffered two gunshot wounds in the head and was declared dead on arrival at a hospital while the gunman fled on board a pick-up truck that was waiting near the area.

Indiape said they are initially focusing the investigation on personal and work-related angles.