BACOLOD CITY — A criminal complaint for murder was filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Negros Occidental here against a man for the death of a policeman.
Police Capt. Ryan Villasario, Hinigaran town police chief, said the complaint was filed on Tuesday against Constantino Canoy Jr., 39, of Barangay Granada here.
Earlier, police were looking into a case of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide after Canoy, who was driving the multicab of Police Cpl. Nestor Madelo, a personnel of Police Station 5 here, figured in an accident in Barangay Sum-ag here on Jan. 23. Both reportedly came from a drinking session when the accident happened.
However, Villasario said the prosecutor found a probable cause to charge Canoy with murder when he left Madelo in a secluded area in Barangay Pilar in the town instead of bringing him to the hospital.
Villasario said that Canoy told them that he got scared when the accident occurred prompting him to drove to Hinigaran town, where Madelo was found lifeless later that day, with a wound in his face.
Before the discovery of Madelo’s body, Canoy went to Police Station 5 and informed the cop’s colleagues of the accident. The cop’s multicab was then recovered from Canoy’s house.
Canoy was earlier tagged as a person of interest, but he later turned out to be a suspect after he admitted leaving Madelo in the said town.
Villasario said that Canoy was inconsistent with his statement and even misled the police in the investigation, as if he was trying to hide something.
However, the police chief said that Canoy told them that he has no ill intention towards his friend.
Villasario said that it is up to Canoy to defend himself in court, adding that they considered Madelo’s case as solved.