‘My son can never harm her’
CLOSE TO HER. Engr. Ramon Alegre, father of Ryan Alegre, the estranged husband of slain lawyer Amelie Alegre, gave his side on the case with Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el, Mandaue City police chief, looking on. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)
More than a week after the ambush-killing of lawyer Amelie Ocañada-Alegre, her father-in-law spoke out yesterday, insisting that his son isn’t responsible for her murder.
“We are innocent of all these but now after all our silence, I cannot take it anymore as a father. We, especially my son Ryan, are still grieving over her tragic and untimely death. These past few days have been very extremely difficult for me and my family,” Engr. Ramon Alegre said.
Alegre appeared with Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el Jr., Mandaue City police chief, in a press conference at the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) yesterday.
Suspects
Natu-el said they have two suspects in the murder.
“We have already identified two suspects, and we have sketches of them,” he said after the case conference yesterday.
Based on security footage of the incident taken at A. Soriano Street and Plaridel St. corner C. Ouano St., six assailants tailed the lawyer’s vehicle as she dropped off Boholst.
Natu-el said they are still investigating Ryan’s involvement in the crime and are looking into other angles.
Alegre yesterday responded to the allegations raised by former Mandaue City administrator Briccio Joseph Boholst and Amelie’s mother Marieta that his son was behind the Aug. 12 ambush in barangay Looc, Mandaue City.
Amelie was shot dead by motorcycle-riding assailants while driving towards the Boholst residence to drop off her associate in the Boholst Ocañada-Alegre Herrera-Klepp and Remedio law firm.
Boholst, who was seated at the back, survived the ambush along with accountant Antonio Pino, who was in the passenger seat.
SMALL THING
Engr. Alegre said he didn’t know why Boholst accused his son of Amelie’s murder.
“I’m 64 years old and I have no business telling lies. I can look anybody in the eye and honestly say Ryan is not capable of harming Am-am whom he has loved deeply for several years. The land is only 5,000 square meters. Even it were 500 hectares, no property big or small is worth taking a human life for,” the elder Alegre said.
He said the property which they divided between Ryan and his daughter is “only a small thing.”
Engr. Alegre said they understand the sentiments of Amelie’s mother Marieta Ocañada towards his son. He said they wanted to go to Amelie’s wake.
“We were supposed to rush to the death scene, but then we saw in TV that the mother was already very hysterical, we decided just to stay away,” Engr. Alegre said.
Close relationship
The elder Alegre said the family has a “very close relationship” with Amelie.
“The family’s very close. Very very close…She stayed with us, she lived with us in one year…When they separated, she left the house,” he said.
He said Ryan and Amelie were boyfriend-girlfriend for seven years and “maintained civil relations after their separation.”
Engr. Alegre said “Ryan never once threatened or harmed Amelie.”
“Am-am and Ryan were very cordial with each other. In fact usahay mag-date pa sila (sometimes they go out on a date),” he said.
Even after their separation, Engr. Alegre said they were still hoping that the two will patch things up.
Asked on his son’s whereabouts, Engr. Alegre said “we’re all here.”
Violence
He also welcomed the entry of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) into the case.
“We are happy that they can help solve the case. The more agencies to help solve the case, the better,” he said.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma lamented the death of Amelie which came barely a week after a former police asset was shot dead in an early morning ambush in barangay Lawaan, Talisay City.
“I hope this kind of violence will stop. It doesn’t give a good name to Cebu,” he said in an interview after ordaining 14 new priests at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral yesterday.
“Never put violence in your hands. We pray for a more peaceful city, and a city that respects the lives of people,” Palma said.