THE POLICE on Thursday said that no public statement can affect the ongoing investigation on the murder of the businesswoman-model outside her rented house in Green Meadows, Tugbok district last Dec. 29.
This after 1001st Infantry brigade commander Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III issued a statement denying his alleged involvement in the murder of Yvonette Chua Plaza, 38.
In an interview on Thursday, Police Regional Office 11 spokesperson Major Eudisan Gultiano said they are looking at all possible angles. So, the statement by the military officer is not automatic proof of his innocence.
“Hindi kami nakadepende sa kung ano man statement nun tao nali-link sa incident. We will base on hard and other circumstantial evidence na makuha sa investigation (We do not base our investigation on the statement of the person linked to the incident),” Gultiano said.
She added that the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit is still in the process of requesting technical assistance to open the victim’s phone that was recovered at the crime scene.
Meanwhile, Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., said the 10th Infantry Division is already conducting its own separate investigation after one of its officers was dragged into the case.
“We are waiting for the results. We have advised Gen. Durante to cooperate with any investigation on the allegations against him,” Brawner said.
10th ID spokesman Capt. Mark Anthony Tito said they are closely coordinating with the Police Regional Office (PRO) XI regarding the case.
“So far, there is no formal request or complaint against one of our senior officers. Thus, we could not take action based on social media. We will wait for the result of the investigation of the PNP and the unit will cooperate with the ongoing formal investigation if needed,” Tito said.
“We will not condone any wrongdoing of our personnel, including senior officers,” he added.
Earlier, Durante sent a text message to TIMES denying his involvement on the gruesome incident.
Durante said “Yvonne was my friend. My name is being dragged based on an FB post made last April 2022 wherein I allegedly hurt her. She later retracted the post and issued a statement that I did not in any way harm her.”
“I am deeply saddened [by] her demise and condole with her family and friends. I myself demand justice for Yvonne,” he added.
