Uy’s eldest kin expresses hope in the reinvestigation of her father’s case

By GINA DEAN-RAGUDO, Samar News.com
August 30, 2011

CALBAYOG CITY  –  Just like other extra-judicial killings (ELKs) in the province, the Philippine National Police and other coordinating agencies have not come up yet with a conclusive result on their investigations of the assassination of Calbayog Mayor Reynaldo Uy last April 30, 2011 in Hinabangan, Samar.

The slow paced development of the case under the PNP and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Commission on Human Rights’ act of archiving the same made the family decide to seek the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Central Office.

Dismayed, Rosa Jessica “Aika” Uy-Delgado (eldest child of Mayor Uy) revealed that as a sign of respect and courtesy to the victim’s family they should have been informed on the development of the case but she learned that a high ranking PNP official allegedly said that it is not the duty of said office to do the same.

“We are saddened when it was archived considering that this is a high-profile case; but we don’t want to lose hope. It’s like opening a file cabinet,” she said.

An independent re-autopsy of Uy’s body was conducted lately by Dr. Alvin David, a forensic expert from the NBI.

With these, she expressed her 100% faith to the agency as it would open a new door in the investigation.

Compared to the previous autopsy report of Dr. Cordero from the PNP and the reenactment made on July at the crime scene, she disclosed that there were doubts on her mind since the investigating body suggested that there was an angle of “squabble” within and between the victim’s allies or supporters on the night of the killing.

She also disclosed that the PNP was not able to determine exactly the position of the gunman or its range from the victim’s location.

The CIDG on the other hand have 2-3 angles but just like the other investigation, the victim’s family was not convinced on it.

The eldest Uy (from the brood of 4) exclaimed her disappointment to the police officers (especially in civilian clothes) and the military that are constantly seen and used as bodyguards by his father’s opponent and political rival.

“Paanano ka magtatapud san usa nga institusyon nga pirme mo nakikit-an nga upod-upod san usa nga politico? Sino ba an kaupod pirme? Di ba an 2 six by six trucks, 2 mobile patrol cars san PNP and RMG?!” she uttered.

Admittedly, anybody can be a suspect considering that a high powered firearm can be bought in the market, she clarified.

Examining the suggestions and interpretations made by the NBI, she is fairly convinced that it is akin to the real picture she is expecting to believe which is based on the gunshot wounds that the victim acquired from the gun used by the killer.

She further revealed that there are already leads such as the rifle used by the gunman but refused to give details as it could possibly affect the investigation of the case.