MURDER VICTIM'S KIN FLAY EBDANE FOR 'SLEEPING ON JOB'

The family of a 28-year-old taxi driver, who was murdered by the leader of
a well-entrenched drug syndicate in Caloocan City, yesterday appealed to
President Arroyo to impose sanctions on Philippine National Police (PNP)
Chief Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. for not doing anything about the incident.

The murder happened around 9 a.m. last Tuesday at Phase 12, Bagong Silang
when Diosdado Garcia was shot by a certain Asiong Omar, alleged Moslem drug
lord, in the latter's "safe house" in the city.

The victim suffered gunshot wounds in the back and head, according to
police investigator Gaudencio Domingo.

The suspect killed Garcia on suspicion he was a police asset.

Witnesses said Garcia initially received a phone call around 8 a.m. from
certain Anton, Alex and Pupoy, all accomplices of Omar, informing the
victim they wanted to rent his taxicab.

After Garcia agreed, he was fetched by the suspects at his home in Phase 9,
boarded a tricycle and went to Omar's home.

Witnesses said while the victim was having a conversation with Alex, Pupoy
and Anton, he fell at the doorstep after Omar shot him in the back and the
head with a 9mm pistol.

Garcia's body was later dragged at the road pavement outside Omar's house.
His wallet was also taken along with his two cellphones.

Witnesses said Garcia's body was left sprawled on the ground for hours
before it was picked up by authorities.

In an interview, Baby de la Cruz, the victim's sister, said the police have
not made any move to arrest Omar nor the latter's accomplices despite the
presence of strong evidence.

What's ironic, De la Cruz added, the suspects were bold to answer their
phonecalls using Garcia's two cellphones.

"When I called my brother's cellphone, they are bold enough to answer it
and even warned us not to pester them anymore...they even threatened us
with death, the same fate suffered by my brother...they claimed they are
untouchables...and are being protected by the Caloocan chief of police,"
she said.

De la Cruz asked if Omar has no "protection," why was he able to escape
prosecution?

"Any police officer knows that Phase 12 in Caloocan City is the haven for
shabu, this is a Moslem area notorious for illegal drugs...I don't know why
PNP (Philippine National Police) chief (Hermogenes) Ebdane Jr.) is sleeping
on the job having failed to direct Caloocan police chief Supt. Nestor
Robles to neutralize this drug syndicate...why? Are they benefiting from
its operation?" De la Cruz asked.

De la Cruz, at the same time, urged President Arroyo to prove to them she
is really determined to wage war against illegal drugs.

"We're sick and tired of her (Arroyo) lip service...she should cease giving
us false promises, we want action to prove her worth as the country's
elected President," she grieved.

"If you (Arroyo) is really sincere in waging war against illegal drugs why
not clean our area of this (shabu) drug menace...My God, innocent children
have already lost their future because of this menace," she said.

De la Cruz lamented due to the police failure to perform their duties, the
victim's family who was left with two children would have no choice but to
go back to their home province in Aklan because of numerous death threats
they received.