Questions hang on 'lost and found' evidence at WCD

By Florence F. Hibionada
Correspondent

Last week's incident of a missing mobile phone under police custody at the Women and Children's Desk (WCD) of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) remain a 'mystery.' While found and recovered in record speed a day after it was first reported missing, a black Nokia 6600 may just have opened more serious concerns and unresolved in-house squabble at the WCD.

The controversial missing report was picked up by radio reporters following the simultaneous blotter entries of two policewomen. PO2 Liezel Deslate had on record at Police Precinct 1 Investigation Section her discovery of the missing Nokia 6600, an evidence for a previous case of the WCD she handled. A former exhibit custodian and case investigator, PO2 Deslate reported that her discovery came after checking the exhibit drawer for evidences of another case. While at it, she said, she noticed a white envelope that only contained two pictures when it was supposed to have the said mobile phone. Efforts to locate such failed thus the blotter entry in Monday's record of events.

Some thirty minutes later, SPO1 Mercylin Duero, WCD officer-in-charge had her own blotter report re-stating the missing evidence as told by PO2 Deslate. Yet there was added information on SPO1 Duero's version of the 'discovery' event wherein she disclosed how PO2 Deslate opened two exhibit drawers, one to check on the evidences she needed for another case then after finding all in place, opened the other one where the supposed missing Nokia 6600 was eventually discovered.

The matter reached the attention of Senior Supt. Norlito Bautista, ICPO director who ordered an immediate investigation. However even before the probe could unfold, the Nokia 6600 was back to where it belonged—inside the exhibit drawer. As to how it was actually recovered remains unclear.

Pressed for clarifications, PO2 Deslate told The News Today (TNT) that she has no idea how the evidence could be missing or when it was possibly taken out of the white envelope. Yet she insists, it was where she left it when stripped off her duties at the WCD and re-assigned to the PP1 administration.

"God is my witness," PO2 Deslate added while confirming that she personally sought re-assignment due to management problems at the WCD. Asked to elaborate, PO2 Deslate refused as she quipped, " basta indi na ko ka-agwanta sang palakat didto (I can no longer take the way the office is run)."

TNT learned that PO2 Deslate's request for reassigment was directly made to the Office of the Mayor but was eventually returned to the ICPO for action.

SPO1 Duero for her part said she knows nothing of any problem or conflict between her and PO2 Deslate or between the WCD as a whole.

A different position clarified by Senior Insp. Erna Foerster, former WCD chief who told TNT of the apparent conflict with PO2 Deslate.

"One of my recommendatios was that she (PO2 Deslate) will not be granted money and property clearance because there was no proper turn-over of all items under her custody," she explained while adding how PO2 Deslate was re-assigned anyway with no inventory realized to date. Copies of her recommendation and report were submitted to the ICPO's Supply Officer, Investigation Section, Finance Section, Administration Division and the Regional Investigation and Intelligence Division (RIID).

As for the controversial cellphone, Senior Insp. Foerster clarified, "only the Court, Prosecution through Resolution or orders can cause release of evidence then in some instances after thorough evaluation of the city director but there are a lot of requirements plus the comment of the WCD regarding the status of the case is still asked."

And how then are the exhibits now handled and accounted? SPO1 Duero said drawers were sealed and signed but as to what are inside, till the inventories are made nobody has the precise answer. Meantime, the mystery of the lost and found evidence remains.