The family of wood chopper Alberto delos Reyes, who was gunned down in front of his 10-year-old son by a policeman in Marinduque last month, has been appealing for justice amid the slow progress of the investigation.

Alberto was allegedly killed by Police Corporal Jay Anthony Custodio during an anti-illegal logging operation in Buenavista, Marinduque. The victim’s family said Alberto was chopping down a fallen tree when Custodio arrived in the area on July 30.

The Marinduque police said Alberto has allegedly resisted and fought when he was being arrested using a bladed weapon.

“Yon nga pong sinasabi ng pulis nanlaban daw po si kuya, inaano-ano raw po siya ng bolo. Pero wala po base po sa testigo (That's what the police said that my brother allegedly fought back with a bolo, but the witness said it didn’t happened),” Alberto’s sister Mabel delos Reyes said in a report over GMA’s 24 Oras on Sunday.

“Yung kuya ko po kasi kinuha yung power saw at ilalagay niya po sa likod ng kubo po tapos nung nilalagay na po at saka po siya sinundan ng pulis sinabi, ‘sige takbo’ at saka nagpasunod-sunod ng putok (My brother took the power saw and put it behind the hut. When he had put it away the police followed him and said, ‘go ahead run,’ then fired a series of gun shots),” she added.

According to the victim’s sister, Alberto’s 10-year-old son witnessed the entire incident.

“Kwento nga po nung pamangkin ko yung boses po ng papa niya naghihingalo po kitang kita po niya (According to my nephew, he saw his father dying in front of him),” she said.

Mabel recalled that his brother had no knife or dangerous weapon during the encounter.

“Sana po ay wag niya na pong pagtakpan yung sarili niya at aminin na lamang po niya ang mga ginawa niya dahil kung siya po ay matinong police hindi niya po magagawa yun sa kapatid ko. (I hope Custodio must admit what he did because if he's a good policeman he can't do that to my brother),” Mabel appealed.

The victim’s family had already filed a complaint against Custodio, the report noted.

The investigation is on-going while Custodio is currently under the police custody, according to the Chief Buenavista Marinduque Police Police Lieutenant Ruel Reforma.

“On going po yung investigation. Nasa police restricted custody para po in case na whatever the outcome of the investigation ay ready to answer po siya (The investigation is going on. Custodio is now under the police restricted custody, and after the outcome of the investigation, he is ready to answer),” Reforma explained.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar has ordered on Sunday, Aug. 1, a thorough investigation on the incident.

Eleazar also directed Police Brig. Gen. Nelson Bondoc, PRO-4B regional director, to ensure the safety of Alberto’s 10-year-old son who could be a potential witness in the incident.