Ombudsman junks abuse raps filed by Chinese bizwoman vs CIDG chief
Gumban
Police Superintendent Renato Gumban, chief of the region's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) scored twin victories in the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military.
Victory number one was the dismissal of abuse of authority raps filed by Chinese businesswoman Conchita Tan. Victory number two was the lifting and recall of an earlier order for Superintendent Gumban's preventive suspension.
Both subjects of Ombudsman case docketed as OMB-P-A-06-0107-A, the decision was reached in a 5-paged Order approved by Tanodbayan Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez. Also sealing Gumban's victories was Deputy Ombudsman for the Military Emilio Gonzalez III.
The Ombudsman Order was initially issued by Ombudsman Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Dennis Garcia.
The military ombudsman in ruling for Gumban wrote that "exhaustive factual averments" led to "no other conclusion than that of the innocence of the respondent and the regularity of his actions as a peace officer."
Gumban's legal woes on said Ombudsman case stemmed from the CIDG's handling of the gruesome killing of couple Cindy Zayco and Bobby Tan. The massacre also claimed the life of 6 year-old Katherine.
Surviving Zayco-Tan children were taken by the maternal relatives with Superintendent Gumban personally sought by the family for assistance and protection.
Conchita Tan, matriarch of the Tan family hurled Gumban to the Military Ombudsman citing abuse of authority and charged that kidnapping took place.
"The kidnapping incident was allegedly accomplished by a certain Mike Zayco, the brother of the deceased Cynthia Marie "Cindy" Zayco-Tan, with the aid and assistance of Miguel Sola, Natividad Zayco and respondent P/Supt. Renato Gumban who according to the complainant gave direct orders to unidentified armed men in entering the Tan residence and disarming the security guard posted at the gate of the house," excerpts of the Military Ombudman Order as obtained by The News Today (TNT) went.
In his defense, Superintendent Gumban submitted Court decisions and joint affidavits of the children outrightly debunking kidnapping claims.
The Court then ruled that the "minors were not brainwashed, coerced or threatened by the maternal relatives including Mike Zayco and Police Officer Renato Gumban."
The children's joint affidavit further stated how they wanted to leave Iloilo City "....because we wanted to forget the traumatic experience caused by the death of our parents and sister."
Further still, the Military Ombudsman was apprised of the Court's ruling granting guardianship to Rosalinda Garcia-Zayco.
As such, due credence was given on findings of the Court which heard the petition for habeas corpus and letters of guardianship of the surviving Zayco-Tan children.
Gumban was aided by counsel, lawyer Joviel Edama and Cornelio Panes