Police plead to ‘new witness’ in Reah Mae Tocmo’s murder case to cooperate with authorities
A photo of Reah Mae Tocmo taken from her Facebook page. Tocmo was found dead, stuffed inside a box and left at the side of the road in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City on Monday, July 17, 2023.
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The chief of the Labangon Police Station is urging a woman who claims to have knowledge about the murder of Rhea Mae Tocmo to cooperate with authorities.
Police Major Angelito Valleser said that the “witness” can chose to visit other law enforcement agencies if she does not trust the police.
“Amo siyang ihangyo nga moadto siya sa sakto nga law enforcement body. Og wa na siyay salig sa kapulisan, pwede siya moadto sa NBI ug unsa nga law enforcement body nga makascreen sa tanang information nga matod pa niya, makatabang sa imbestigasyon,” he said.
The woman, who goes by the alias “Bianca Lee” said in a radio interview on Thursday, August 31, that she has in her possession evidence that would unfold the “truth” in Tocmo’s murder.
She also pointed at Jewel Smith, Tocmo’s friend, as among those who were responsible for her death.
READ: Gabutero reiterates: I killed Reah Mae Tocmo, I was not forced to admit it
New angle
Lee’s claims were made shortly after a murder case was filed at the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office against Simeon Gabutero Jr., who confessed to having killed Tocmo out of jealousy.
Valleser said that Lee’s claims should be looked into, especially the angle on Tocmo’s alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
“Ang amoang primary aim ani nga kaso, mahatagan og saktong hustisya ang biktima, uban sa iyang nagbangutan nga pamilya. Mahatagan sila og hustisya,” he said.
But if found that Lee was fabricating lies, appropriates charges would have to be filed against her.
“Mo file mi og kaso nga criminal against niya para mahatagan pud mig hustisya sa among part nga nag-conduct mi og investigation. Para dili pud sundogon sa umaabot, sa ubang taw nga gusto lang mokita nya magbuhat-buhat og storya sa social media,” Valleser said.
Lee’s claims
In her radio interview, Lee mentioned of Smith as among those involved in Tocmo’s murder.
Lee said she has CCTV footage to support her claims that Smith took a taxi ride to the area where Tocmo’s body was dumped in Barangay Tisa on July 16, 2023.
She also mentioned that she met Tocmo in the morning of July 15. She said that she saw Tocmo crying, the reason why she approached her.
Based on her interview, Lee said that Tocmo opened up about her alleged involvement in illegal drugs during their conversation. But she did not say where and why they met.
According to Valleser, Lee also mentioned about her claims in a social media post.
Hard to believe
“Impossible kaayo tuohan. Ang taw nga na-involve sa drugs, dili gyud na siya mobasta-basta og storya sa taw nga dili niya kaila. Matod pa niya, mao pay pagkaila nila. Impossible kaayo ang babaye mostorya nga ‘uy, na-involve ko sa drugs,” Valleser said.
In an interview on Friday, Sept. 1, Valleser said that there was no available footage from the area in Barangay Tisa, where Tocmo’s body was found stuffed in a box, since the only CCTV that was located close to said place was no longer functional.
He also questioned Lee’s claims that Tocmo sent her a text message at 2:37 a.m. on July 17.
Quoting the assessment made by medico-legal experts, Tocmo was already dead at that time, Valleser said.
In fact, Tocmo’s body was already emitting foul order as it was already in the early stage of decomposition when found early morning on July 17, an indication that she had been dead for at least 24 hours.
Also, Gabutero took possession of Tocmo’s cellular phone after she was killed. A CCTV footage that was in their possession would show that Gabutero sold Tocmo’s phone, Valleser said.
What’s her motive?
According to Valleser, he could not help but question Lee’s motives. She never came out when the police investigators were asking the public for help in their ongoing investigation on Tocmo’s murder.
Valleser said that it was also hard to believe that she feared for her safety then because of how she addressed the police in her radio interview.
“Ingnan gali mi nga, bantay lang mong mga pulis sa Labangon kay kulban ta mo og kaldero… Mao ba na ang sakto nga acquisition sa taw nga nahadlok?” Valleser said. / dcb
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