Sudlon I barangay chief alarmed with Yballe’s death, urges police to explain

This is the barangay hall of Sudlon I, a mountain barangay which is located 21 kilometers from Barangay Lahug, Cebu City. | CDND Photo/ Delta Letigio

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The barangay chief of Sudlon I said the mystery surrounding the death of Police Corporal Feliciano Yballe, Jr. is causing fear among the residents of the barangay, who did not understand why the police gunned down their own fellow.

Barangay Captain Dante Tabucal said that many of the neighbours heard the multiple gunshots on Tuesday dawn, May 1, when policemen assigned at the Toledo City Police Station and some uniformed personnel belonging to the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) force went inside Yballe’s home before he was killed.

Tabucal told CDN Digital that the police operation did not coordinate with the local tanods (village watchmen), which was unusual because the police often coordinate with them during operations.

READ: Tanods’ accounts say fellow cops responsible for Yballe’s death

However, he understood that sometimes the police would do operations especially concerning confidential cases without the coordination of the local government unit in order not to pre-empt the operations.

Sudlon I is a mountain barangay belonging to Cebu City and is located 21 kilometers from Lahug, Cebu City.

Tabucal said he trusts that the police has a valid explanation on the police operation and what transpired inside Yballe’s house.

Yet he urged the police to explain to the public the reasons for the operations in order to ease the fear of the residents who heard the gunshots and the screams of Yballe before his death.

“Medyo nabalaka sad mi kay wala mi kasabot ngano to. (We were alarmed because we do not understand what happened). I leave it to the police to explain,” said Tabucal.

The top officials of the Cebu police including Cebu City Director Colonel Royina Garma and Brigadier General Debold Sinas have remained tightlipped on the incident.

Tabucal also urged the police to shed light on the rumors that illegal drugs were confiscated from Yballe during the operations since he could not believe that Yballe could possibly be involved in drugs.

“He has financial problems. Let us look at his situation at home, he is living a very simple life,” said Tabucal.

Despite the incident, the village chief assured the residents that Sudlon I remains safe and there is no need to worry.

Tabucal also revealed that he was saddened by the death of Yballe, who became a friend when he was assigned as a barangay police in Sudlon I prior to his assignment as a member of the Cebu City Mobile Force Company (CCMFC).

He said that Yballe, who hails from Sinsin and moved to Sudlon I with his pregnant common-law-wife and their child, was known to be a good person and neighbor in the barangay.

Tabucal also revealed that Yballe was separated from his first wife and had an older child, which he orphaned as well with his death.

He said Yballe had a good reputation in the barangay, where he went home daily after work riding his motorcycle. The motorcycle is currently under the custody of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) along with his jacket and other items.

He hopes that the truth on his death will come out for the residents to understand the alarming incident.

Yballe’s body is laid at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Memorial in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City but his family refused to issue a statement. / celr