SOME weeks ago I wrote about the killings in Negros Oriental, including the May 5 murder of radio broadcaster Cornelio Pepino, also known as Rex Cornelio. Recently, this case was again in the national limelight. Police Executive Master Sergeant (PEMS) Reuel Piñero, a person of interest in the Pepino case and police aide of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo — until August 4 when he was reassigned to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) — was reported missing. Piñero’s wife on August 12 filed a writ of habeas corpus for Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Chief BGen. Albert Ignatius Ferro and three other police officers to produce her husband.
In a press conference in Dumaguete City on the same day, Mrs. Piñero said her husband had told her that he was being “restrained” in Cebu City for refusing to implicate Governor Degamo in the Pepino murder. Mrs. Piñero lamented that she had not been able to reach her husband for two days. The Commission on Human Rights failed to locate the policeman.
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