BALANGA CITY – The Bataan Police Provincial Office (BPPO) here said Wednesday, Sept. 6, that investigation was still ongoing on the alleged abduction in Orion, Bataan of two young women reportedly from Bulacan.
BPPO administrative officer Capt. Carlito Buco said the family of one of the victims was not convinced that government forces, military or the Philippine National Police, have something to do with the disappearance of Jhed Tamano, as alleged in some reports.
He said the family of Tamano whose stepfather is a former military officer has reported her disappearance to the Bataan police but the family of the other alleged victim, Jonila Castro has not yet reported the incident.
Buco said Col. Palmer Tria, Bataan police director, has directed Orion police chief Capt. Silvestre Colanza and intelligence officers to dig deeper into the reported abduction. He said so far, no complaint has been logged even in the barangay.
Social media reports showed that the two college graduates from Bulacan, Tamano, 22 and Castro, 21, were abducted night of Saturday, Sept. 2, in Barangay Lati in Orion. They were reportedly environmental activists fighting reclamation in Manila Bay.
“Nandoon pa din kami sa step na bine-verify ang report kasi wala namang concrete na nagsasabi puro social media posting lang. Doon lang kami nakabase sa mga postings. Pero still the family naman they are not against sa government, sa PNP particularly. Hindi naman sila nagsasabi o sinisisi ang PNP,” Buco said.
“Until now naman dirediretso pa din ang investigation hindi naman ‘yan tinitigilan, coordination sa lahat ng pwedeng involved dito sa Bataan or involved agencies like sa barangay, LGU ng Orion.” he furthered.
“Until now wala tayong nakikitang suspect kasi nga until now yung immediate family ng allegedly na nawawala ay hindi naman sila formally na nagco-complain. Walang complain pero dahil nga sa social media attention, dahil nga diyan nag-action taken na ang PNP na mag-imbistiga kahit na wala pang formal complaint ang mga family,” he said.
Buco said the family of Tamano does not blame the government but is seeking help from the police to know what really happened. “As of now, as of today, as of this moment, gumugulong ang imbestigasyon. Naghahanap tayo ng impormasyon so darating naman ang time na kapag talagang kumpleto na at sigurado na ang mga impormasyon natin ay ilalabas naman iyan kung ano talaga.”
He said that investigation is in full swing to validate every information coming in because they could not just jump into conclusion. He said that they have to base the investigation through straight facts and not merely on social media postings where the issue began.
He emphasized that they have received reports from the family of Tamano as early as Sept. 3 but no communication yet from the family of Castro.
As to what activities the two were doing in Orion, Buco said that they still could not make a conclusion because the Orion MPS is still in the process of investigation.
“Pagdating sa investigation matters, doon kami magre-rely sa immediate family so we make an effort to communicate. Dahil it drew public attention although walang official report, walang official log, kumilos na at may initial action na ang Bataan police,” Buco said.
