Davao City police face blank wall in Bragas rape-slay case
Published Jun 2, 2023 07:04 am
DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has no suspects yet in the murder of 28-year-old architect and engineer Vlanche Marie Bragas in Calinan District here on May 17.
BRAGAS
DCPO chief Police Col. Alberto Lupaz admitted that the Special Investigation Task Force (SITG) Bragas still faces a blank wall in the case due absence of reliable witness. Bragas, who was also raped, was found dead in a grassy ditch in a banana plantation in Barangay Dacudao and was last seen onboard a yellow pedicab locally known as “ongbak.” “This is not an easy case to solve because of the absence of reliable witness. Maybe somebody could have witnessed the incident but they are afraid to come out. We cannot force them,” Lupaz said. Currently, the SITG is relying on the statement of a witness who was able to attest that there were three persons onboard the pedicab, including Bragas, Lupaz added.
LUPAZ (Keith Bacongco) Lupaz said the witness was only able to identify that there were two males and a female in the pedicab that passed by his location. “The initial findings of the SITG stated that this person who saw the pedicab revealed that there was already one male passenger onboard aside from the driver," Lupaz said to clarify rumors that there were five persons who allegedly perpetrated the crime. Lupaz remains hopeful that some individuals who may have knowledge on the incident would still cooperate with the police. Police have yet to recover or locate the pedicab as well as identify its owner. Lupaz disclosed that investigators are still analyzing the distinguishing mark of the pedicab based on closed-circuit television footage. The DCPO chief revealed that the Bragas family is unsatisfied with the progress of the investigation. "We are doing our best to solve this. Her father was my teacher in high school," said Lupaz who also hails from Calinan District. Davao City first district Rep. Paolo Duterte has offered a P1-million reward for the arrest of suspects. Meanwhile, the DCPO chief appealed to the public to stop spreading rumors on social media as it will not help solve the case. Lupaz said that it could not yet be established if reported abductions or missing persons in this city were related to the case. "If they knew something, they can execute their affidavits," Lupaz said. Lupaz cited the arrest of Renato Bayansao, alias “Empoy,” on May 27 by individuals who introduced themselves as personnel of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Calinan. He said he could not yet say if Bayansao was among the persons of interest in the Bragas case. On May 29, the DCPO Talomo Station reportedly rescued a man who sought refuge at the Matina Pangi barangay hall. The man was later identified as Dennis Panzan who was handcuffed and his mouth wrapped with packaging tape. According to reports, Panzan was reportedly abducted by unidentified persons in Calinan but was able to jump off his captors’ vehicle. He reportedly collapsed during a debriefing with the police. Panzan was rushed to the hospital but declared dead on arrival. Lupaz also clarified reports that circulated on social media on the alleged abduction in downtown area on May 30. "It was a legitimate buy-bust operation by the police," he said.
BRAGAS
DCPO chief Police Col. Alberto Lupaz admitted that the Special Investigation Task Force (SITG) Bragas still faces a blank wall in the case due absence of reliable witness. Bragas, who was also raped, was found dead in a grassy ditch in a banana plantation in Barangay Dacudao and was last seen onboard a yellow pedicab locally known as “ongbak.” “This is not an easy case to solve because of the absence of reliable witness. Maybe somebody could have witnessed the incident but they are afraid to come out. We cannot force them,” Lupaz said. Currently, the SITG is relying on the statement of a witness who was able to attest that there were three persons onboard the pedicab, including Bragas, Lupaz added.
LUPAZ (Keith Bacongco) Lupaz said the witness was only able to identify that there were two males and a female in the pedicab that passed by his location. “The initial findings of the SITG stated that this person who saw the pedicab revealed that there was already one male passenger onboard aside from the driver," Lupaz said to clarify rumors that there were five persons who allegedly perpetrated the crime. Lupaz remains hopeful that some individuals who may have knowledge on the incident would still cooperate with the police. Police have yet to recover or locate the pedicab as well as identify its owner. Lupaz disclosed that investigators are still analyzing the distinguishing mark of the pedicab based on closed-circuit television footage. The DCPO chief revealed that the Bragas family is unsatisfied with the progress of the investigation. "We are doing our best to solve this. Her father was my teacher in high school," said Lupaz who also hails from Calinan District. Davao City first district Rep. Paolo Duterte has offered a P1-million reward for the arrest of suspects. Meanwhile, the DCPO chief appealed to the public to stop spreading rumors on social media as it will not help solve the case. Lupaz said that it could not yet be established if reported abductions or missing persons in this city were related to the case. "If they knew something, they can execute their affidavits," Lupaz said. Lupaz cited the arrest of Renato Bayansao, alias “Empoy,” on May 27 by individuals who introduced themselves as personnel of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Calinan. He said he could not yet say if Bayansao was among the persons of interest in the Bragas case. On May 29, the DCPO Talomo Station reportedly rescued a man who sought refuge at the Matina Pangi barangay hall. The man was later identified as Dennis Panzan who was handcuffed and his mouth wrapped with packaging tape. According to reports, Panzan was reportedly abducted by unidentified persons in Calinan but was able to jump off his captors’ vehicle. He reportedly collapsed during a debriefing with the police. Panzan was rushed to the hospital but declared dead on arrival. Lupaz also clarified reports that circulated on social media on the alleged abduction in downtown area on May 30. "It was a legitimate buy-bust operation by the police," he said.