Relieved police commander’s troubles mount over missing house help
THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) recommended filing an administrative charge against Major Michael Uyangure, the relieved Toril Police Station chief dragged in the alleged disappearance of his 21-year-old house help.
During Wednesday’s AFP-PNP press briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, DCPO spokesperson Captain Hazel Tuazon was asked for the basis for the administrative case, she answered, “Mao pa na ang gitan aw karon sa legal officer nato (That’s what our legal officer is looking at now),” Tuazon said.
Uyanguren, the employer of Justine Saldua, is now at the Regional Police Accounting and Holding Unit (RPHAU) after city police director Col Alberto Lupaz ordered his relief.
“No designation and is under monitoring for a fair conduct of investigation,” Tuazon said.
“Diri ra sya sa Davao City kay under investigation siya and he is willing magpa lie detector test.”
She also reiterated the directive of Lupaz that there would be no whitewashing of the investigation.
“Kung muduol ang complainant sa lain law enforcer, we are open and naghatag assurance si CD [Col Alberto Lupaz] dili namo coveran si Uyanguren kung naa sala. If we have to file criminal case, we will file,” she further said.
Also, she said members of the Special Investigation Task Group already talked with Saldua’s parents, who are residents of Barangay Upper Ulip, Monkayo, Davao de Oro, on Tuesday. When they last went to the house help’s house, they only chanced upon her live-in partner.
“Naa pa sa pagpangita sa house help. Naa na coordination with the family. Hopefully, makuhaan statement,” she said.
The police also sought permission from the family to post Saldua’s photo on the DCPO FB page to solicit the public’s help in tracing her whereabouts.
Tuazon also revealed they got hold of a copy of the CCTV footage of the taxi where Saldua was last seen on board on Aug. 29. They will review the clip and present it during the second meeting of the task group this Friday.
For now, they are investigating the allegation that Saldua is being held by Uyanguren’s mother
“Di pa ta ka sulti kung kinsa nagtago saiya (We can’t say definitely who is holding her),” she added.
It can be recalled that the incident became public after Saldua’s parents went live on Sen. Raffy Tulfo’s program aired on Sept. 28.
