A mother's cry for justice

A mother tormented by the death of her daughter more than two years ago has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the rape and murder of her daughter. The request was made by the victim's parents, Antonia and Eusebio Dumaluan in a letter sent to NBI Director Nestor Mantaring. Antonia visited the Post office Friday and declared her intention to pursue justice for her daughter's rape-murder. Already anguished by the brutal end to her daughter's life who was raped before she was killed, the mother said she continues to grieve because justice has been elusive. A suspect who was arrested in connection with the killing is now languishing in jail but the girl's parents are not satisfied. Like many people, they believe that there could be other suspects involved in the case who remain at large.

Fearful that justice will not be served unless they do something, the couple decided to issue an appeal to Mantaring whom they believe has the capability to conduct an impartial and honest investigation. A copy of the hand-written request done in Cebuano and dated Sept. 22 was furnished the Post. “Boot unta mi mohangyo sa panabang sa imong upisina sa paghatag ug tino-od nga hustisya sa kamatayon sa among anak (We want to request the assistance of your office to give real justice for the death of our daughter),” the girl's parents told Mantaring. Although there is already a case filed by the police, the parents said they are not satisfied because many believe that not only one person was involved in the case. “Gawas pa ana naglibog me nganong gibalhin man sa bag-ong mayor ang embestigador ug hepe sa police sa Panglao adtong hapit na nila makompleto and ilang imbestigasyon (Aside from that, we are puzzled why the new mayor transferred the investigator and chief of police of Panglao when they were about to conclude their investigation),” the letter added.

The victim's parents said they suspect that the new Panglao mayor who also owns the resort where the body of their daughter was found is hiding something. Panglao Mayor Doloreich Dumaluan assumed office in July 2004 after winning the election in the May elections that year. The girl's parents asked Mantaring to ensure that they will obtain justice for their daughter. Based on the police report, the Panglao PNP station received a report about the discovery of the victim's lifeless body about 2:00 in the afternoon of April 29, 2004. The Post obtained an authenticated copy of the spot report signed by Senior Police Insp. Nicomedes Olaivar Jr., Panglao OIC police chief.

The spot report revealed that a phone call received by the Panglao police station reported the discovery of a dead body near the staff house of the Dumaluan Beach Resort in Barangay Bolod, Panglao. According to PO3 Dominic Ragusta, Panglao police investigator at the time, elements of the Panglao police station proceeded to the area to verify the veracity of the report. Insp. Joseph Villas, now with the Dauis PNP, was the Panglao police chief at the time. Initial investigation identified the victim as one Vivian Dumaluan y Rollen, 17, a minor student of the Biking High School in Dauis town and a resident of Barangay Libaong, Panglao. The report said that she was last seen alive about 1 pm on April 27 when she asked permission from her aunt identified as one Felisa Lorejo to meet her classmates at the beach.

A post mortem investigation conducted by municipal health officer Julieta Cogo revealed that the victim was raped and killed by still unidentified suspect or suspects. Among the items recovered at the crime scene were a chain handle, a 27-inch wooden stick, a three-meter rope and the victim's miniskirt and underwear. Both Ragusta and Villas have since been reassigned out of Panglao. A source interviewed by the Post said there could be other suspects who have remained at large and who are in the position to influence the conduct of the case. “We are talking here of influential and powerful people,” the source noted.

The source said the unceremonious transfer of the policemen privy to the investigation of the case not only raised suspicions but also cast doubt on the credibility of the investigation. “If there is nothing to hide, why were they not allowed to complete the investigation?” the source added.

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