By JOY R. SEVILLA
ALABEL, Sarangani (March 6, 2014) - "Criminals have no place in Sarangani." This was the bold statement of Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon during a press conference at the Capitol Compound Monday (March 3), following the ambush of Maitum Mayor George Perrett on February 28.
Perrett was hit on his leg and was treated at the Maitum Municipal Hospital. He was transferred to a hospital in General Santos City where he suffered cardiac arrest that caused his death.
Today, March 6, 2014, the late Mayor Perrett is finally laid to rest.
Solon said the local government is coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in consolidating information regarding the incident which led to Perrett's death.
"I have talked with the PNP and all angles are being investigated and reviewed. The PNP has now initiated the forming of 17 highly competent people from all branches of the PNP," said Solon.
Police Chief Superintendent Lester Camba, regional director of the Police Regional Office XII, said they have recommended the formation of the "Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Perrett", as directed by the governor to spearhead and coordinate the investigation and prosecutorial efforts of the Sarangani Provincial Police Office (SPPO) and to facilitate the speedy resolution and successful prosecution of the case and eventual conviction of the perpetrator.
"Sa ngayon, wala pang suspect, the motive is also still not identified. But we are considering all angles including politics," Camba said.
Police Senior Superintendent Edwin Minion, SITG commander, on the other hand, committed to inform the local government and the media should there be any progress in the investigation.
Meanwhile, Camba appealed to the people of Maitum to cooperate in the investigation, saying that the PNP cannot solve the case without a witness.
"Trabaho namin na i-solve ang kaso. We are hopeful that with the creation of the SITG ay umusad ang kaso. Hindi lang ito trabaho ng PNP kaya umaapela kami sa mga taga-Maitum na kung may nalalaman kayo, at kung mahal ninyo ang mayor ninyo, magbigay kayo ng impormasyon para umusad ang kaso," he said.
On February 28, Mayor Perrett, together with his wife, former mayor of Maitum Elsie Lucille Perrett and five others, were ambushed by unidentified armed men at about 10:30 p.m. while on their way home onboard a black Toyota Fortuner after attending a program at the Municipal Gym.
The Mayor, who drove his vehicle, was shot along the national highway of purok Bugo, barangay Malalag in Maitum less than two kilometers away from the town proper. He managed to escape the ambush site and continued driving until they reached the police 3rd Maneuver Company detachment at Riverside in barangay Kalaneg.
The other persons identified by the police onboard Perrett's vehicle are former Mayor Elsie Lucille Perrett; Lilibeth Naungayan, 54 years old, the mayor's secretary; Jaynne Anne Rios, 15 years old, 3rd year high school student; and Zenaida Oding, 40, and Marilyn Bacomo, 45, both helpers. They were all unharmed during the incident.
However, one Adelma Andal, 32, another helper of the Perretts, was injured at her left leg and was treated at the hospital as out-patient.
The personnel of the Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) recovered empty shells of caliber .45, 12 gauge shotgun and 5.56 weapon at the crime scene.
