The Philippine National Police announced that it welcomes the National Bureau of Investigation's pending parallel investigation in connection of the case of Jovelyn Galleno, who was reported missing in early August.
PNP PIO chief Brig. Gen. Augustus Alba said that the police and the NBI have a common goal of achieving justice for the victim and her family.
"We don't interfere in the decision of the family but we can assure that the PNP is determined to resolve the case," Alba said.
To recall, reports from Police Regional Office 4-B regional director Brig. Gen. Sidney Hernia said that Galleno — a 22-year-old sales lady in Puerto Princesa City — went missing on 5 August 2022.
She was last seen in Barangay Tagburos, an adjacent barangay to Sta. Lourdes, after getting out of a public transport vehicle from Robinsons Place in Barangay San Manuel.
On 23 August, skeletal remains with garments belonging to Galleno were found near a ravine in Purok Pulang Lupa, Barangay Sta. Lourdes in Puerto Prinsesa.
The results of the DNA examination conducted by the PNP Forensic Group taken from the skeletal remains matched the DNA samples from Galleno's mother and were confirmed by PRO 4-B spokesperson Cpt. Clyde Kalyawen.
Following the release of the DNA results, the local PNP presented persons of interest identified as Leovert Dasmariñas and Jobert Valdestamon before the provincial prosecutor for the filing of rape and murder charges against them.
"One of the suspects already confessed to the crime and I have already directed the Puerto Princesa City SITG investigators to build an airtight investigation for the filing of appropriate charges against him and his cohort," Hernia said.
"We condemn in the highest degree the senseless atrocity against the victim and we assure the victim's family and the public that the suspects behind the reprehensible heinous crime are brought to justice," he added.
