MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said it welcomes the parallel investigation to be conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the case of 22-year-old saleslady Jovelyn Galleno.
“We welcome the parallel investigation since we have a common goal of achieving justice. We don’t interfere in the decision of the family but we can assure that the PNP is determined to resolve the case,” PNP public information office chief Brig. Gen. Augustus Alba said in a statement.
This came after Galleno's family asked the NBI to conduct its own investigation in the case, as they expressed concerns about the direction of a probe separately being done by the PNP.
The NBI said it will keep looking into the questions poised by the family of Galleno.
On Aug. 23, Galleno's skeletal remains were found in Purok Pulang Lupa, Barangay Sta. Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, more than two weeks after she went missing on Aug. 5.
The results of the DNA examination conducted by the PNP Forensic Group taken from the skeletal remains matched the DNA samples of Galleno’s mother.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 4-B (Mimaropa) director Brig. Gen. Sidney Hernia said the Puerto Princesa City Police Office's special investigation task group (SITG) handling the incident revealed that they already identified two suspects in the crime.
“One of the suspects already confessed to the crime and I have already directed the Puerto Princesa City SITG investigators to build an airtight investigation for the filing of appropriate charges against him and his cohort,” Hernia said in a separate statement.
Hernia vowed justice would be served to the family of Galleno.
“We condemn in the highest degree the senseless atrocity against the victim and we assure the victim's family and the public that the suspects behind the reprehensible heinous crime are brought to justice,” he said.
Following the release of the DNA results, suspects Leovert Dasmariñas and Jobert Valdestamon were presented by the local PNP before the provincial prosecutor of Palawan for the filing of rape and murder charges against them.
Dasmariñas earlier said he and Valdestamon are behind the rape-slay of the victim, who is their cousin. (PNA)
