BEING Cebu City-based, I took great interest in the testimony of police captain Keneth Paul Albotra. Albotra's name is quite familiar in Cebu, especially since 2018, as local reporters would seek his comments in connection with various police operations. However, like Rep. Gerville Luistro and, according to her, other quad committee members, I wondered why retired police colonel Royina Garma identified Albotra as a member of a "kill team." Of all the police officers in the country, why him? Albotra said it could be Garma's way of diverting attention from the Barayuga murder and getting back at PNPA Class 2006. Albotra and Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza, who linked the then Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) GM Garma to the murder of Barayuga, both belong to PNPA Class 2006.
Albotra denied any involvement in the July 2, 2018 assassination of Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili. But some facts that he himself presented during the October 22 quad committee hearing gave credence to Garma's allegation.
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