CEBU CITY – Police Capt. Joel Hernan Deiparine had promised to give his wife a belated birth anniversary treat.

The agreed day came and went. No celebration. No party. What ensued was a tragedy that the policeman’s wife still couldn’t accept.

Deiparine’s wife, who asked not be named, said she could not still believe that her husband is gone, revealing that they had planned a Sunday date to celebrate her birth anniversary.

“The family is grieving. It feels like what happened is just a dream,” Mrs. Deiparine told reporters in an interview in her husband’s wake on Friday, Oct. 31.

Mrs. Deiparine recalled her last moments with her husband which happened during her birth anniversary last Saturday, Oct. 25.

On that fateful day, Mrs. Deiparine said her husband gave her flowers and a birth anniversary cake.

The police officer explained to his wife that they would just celebrate her birth anniversary the next day as he had something to finish at work.

Capt. Deiparine left home around 10 a.m.

Mrs. Deiparine said she sensed nothing wrong when her husband left.

She said she was used to not seeing her husband during Fridays and Saturdays as these are the days that Capt. Deiparine would be out for work as an operative of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Central Visayas.

Mrs. Deiparine thought that it was just an ordinary day.

Around 6 p.m., she received a call from her husband’s colleagues informing her that Capt. Deiparine died in a shootout in Barangay Suldon 2 here.

Mrs. Deiparine said she did not initially believe the report but she received more calls confirming her husband’s death.

Mrs. Deiparine is hoping that justice would be served.

“Our only hope is for justice to prevail. Those responsible should be made to answer,” Mrs. Deiparine said.

Police Col. Enrico Figureoa, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, said three suspects are already in custody.

At least six persons believed to be involved in the crime are still being hunted.

“We have three suspects in custody. We have completed the inquest proceeding. Our investigation now is gearing towards identifying those who helped the suspects escape,” Figureoa said.

Part of the investigation is to unmask those who helped Leonardo Manto Jr., the prime suspect, travel to Manila to surrender to the Pasig City police.

“We want to identify those who helped arrange his travel,” Figureoa said.

Aside from Manto, his cousin Johnrey Manto, is also in police custody.

Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police, visited Capt. Deiparine’s wake on Friday, Oct. 31.

Nartatez condoled with Capt. Deiparine’s wife and the couple’s two children aged 16 and 12. He assured that necessary assistance will be given to the bereaved family.