CLARK FREEPORT – Despite the police clampdown on any development in the Edejer massacre case, a relative of the victim who is also a high-ranking government offi cial expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the on-going police investigation.
“I am satisfi ed with the investigation,” said Zambales Gov. Hermogenes E. Ebdane, second cousin of massacre victim Nick Edejer. Ebdane was interviewed on the sidelines of the Department of Health-LGU stakeholders forum at Holiday Inn here.
Ebdane also praised SeniorSupt. Oscar Albayalde, Pampanga Provincial Police director, for being “highly professional.” “Actually sa police investigations, hindi naman kailangan sinasabi ang nangyayare (Actually in police investigations, we don’t need to divulge what is happening),” said Ebdane who was a former director general of the Philippine National Police and former secretary of the national defense during the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
But he said he learned as of late that somebody requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a parallel investigation. “I welcome this,” he said adding that he requested the police to coordinate with the NBI.
However, Ebdane said in practice, the fi rst to investigate is usually the one handling the case. He said because he is a relative of the victims, he is given a weekly briefi ng by the PNP. “Hindi naman sila nagpapabaya (They are not remiss in their job),” he said.
On September 20, the Edejer couple Nick, 42 and Cora, 47, and their son Kenneth, 19; nephew Nelson Dominico, 17; housemaids Teresita Lansangan, 40; and Kaykay, 27; and masseuse Benigno Villanueva, 52 were massacred inside their residential compound at L&S Subdivision located in the boundaries of Angeles City and the City of San Fernando.
The police have yet to identify a suspect even as a P2-million reward has been put up by relatives and friends of the victims.
