MANILA, Philippines – The special investigation task group (SITG), which the Philippine National Police (PNP) formed to probe the killing of a pair to teenage siblings in Cotabato, said on Wednesday, December 15, that it was now waiting for the result of a crime laboratory examination before filing a complaint. 

“Hinihintay na lang po namin ‘yong result ng PNP Crime Laboratory examination na kung saan kino-crossmatch po ng ating crime lab ‘yong mga dugo, mga strands of hair, ‘yong mga deadly weapons na ginamit doon sa area to include ‘yong mga fingerprints,” Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Tayong, spokesperson of the SITG, told Rappler in an interview. 

(We’re just waiting for the result of the PNP Crime Laboratory examination where the laboratory was crossmatching the bloods, hair strands, and deadly weapons used in the area to include the fingerprints.)

“So upon submission ng resulta ng crime lab, maaari na pong i-file ng SITG ‘yong kaso laban sa mga suspect (So upon submission of the crime laboratory examination result, the SITG would file the complaints against the suspects),” Tayong added. 

According to a report of the Philippine News Agency (PNA), three unidentified assailants stabbed to death the 18-year-old sister and her 16-year-old brother inside their house in Cotabato on December 10.  (As a policy, Rappler does not identify and also obscures details about minors who are involved in crimes.)

The victims’ cousin, who was also in the house when the killing happened, managed to survive by hiding and locking herself in a small room, according to the report. Lieutenant Realan Manon, chief of police of the Cotabato town, said the survivor asked for help by posting on social media. 

The cousin was now under the custody of the local social welfare office, according to the PNA report. The SITG was also formed to conduct a thorough probe into the incident. 

Tayong added that all the affidavits and testimonial evidence were already complete. 

“We are in the process of consolidating all necessary materials para mai-file ‘yong kaso, ano? As far as affidavits, testimonial evidence, declarations, at kung ano-ano pang testimonya na galing sa ating mga testigo at complainants, kumpleto na po,” the SITG spokesperson said. 

(We are in the process of consolidating all necessary materials to file the case. As far as affidavits, testimonial evidence, declarations, and other testimonies from our witnesses and complainants, they were already complete.)

Survivor also a person of interest

According to Tayong, they now have persons of interest in the incident. 

“Meron tayo definitely na mga persons of interest, meron tayong suspects but we cannot reveal to public dahil on the loose pa ‘yong mga suspects natin, except for [that] survivor the PNP investigated at nakasama na rin sa ating persons of interest,” the SITG spokesperson explained. 

(We definitely have persons of interest, we have suspects but we cannot reveal to the public because they’re still on the loose, except for the survivor the PNP investigated and included in the list of our persons of interest.)

The survivor’s statement is essential in the filing of appropriate cases against the suspects, according to the SITG spokesperson. 

“One thing is sure, from being a normal survivor, normal victim, naging person of interest, natin siya among the persons of interest. Iniimbestigahan na rin siya and her statement is very vital dito sa solution or itong pag-file ng kaso ng ito,” Tayong added. 

(One thing is sure, from being a normal survivor, a normal victim, [the survivor] became a person of interest. She is now being investigated and her statement is very vital for the solution or the filing of a case.)

– Rappler.com