DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 24 June) – Police Supt. Leonardo Felonia, of the Regional Intelligence Unit XI who was dragged to the murder case of businessman Richard Lim King, came out to Mayor Rodrigo Duterte last Monday evening.
Duterte accompanied Felonia to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) office here after their meeting to tell his side of the story.
“I’m not an investigating person,” Duterte told reporters at the office of NBI-XI regional director Dante Gierran. The mayor said he did not bother to ask anything from Felonia but told the latter to clear himself and tell his story.
But he is entitled to remain silent and avail the services of a lawyer, Duterte added.
The mayor said that as a policeman, Felonia’s performance was okay, adding, “Let the NBI handle it first.”
“Tama ang ginawa nya (What he did was right),” Duterte said, referring to Felonia’s coming out after the mayor learned about the latter’s implication to the case.
“It could be good at this time to explain why your name was dragged to the killing of King,” Duterte said when asked for his advice to Felonia.
Meanwhile, Felonia told reporters that he was there to seek counsel. The journalists did not ask him further questions.
NBI’s Gierran refused to comment on Felonia’s status, saying that he did not have any idea yet.
“The point is he surrendered to the mayor, and as the mayor said he is not an investigating person that’s why he brought Felonia here,” Gierran said.
The reporters left while Gierran and Felonia had a closed door meeting in the former’s office.
Felonia was not the suspect as of this time, according to the mayor.
Also on Monday, the three suspects – Paul Dave Molina Labang, and brothers Rommel and Rodel dela Cerna – were submitted to the court for inquest proceedings.
Richard King, the owner of Crown Regency chain of hotels, among other businesses, was shot dead inside his Vital C office in Obrero on June 12. He was laid to rest in Cebu last June 18.