GINGOOG City — Mayor Erick G. Cañosa commended police forces for the swift surrender of a 17-year-old suspect linked to the killing of a local government official.
The victim, Downey Valdevilla Jr., served as the supervising administrative officer of the City Health Office and was the son of a retired judge.
Cañosa noted that the minor’s surrender is a crucial development in solving the case.
“We really seek for justice,” Cañosa said in an interview, condemning the brutal killing.
The mayor attributed the quick identification of the suspect to the close coordination between the Gingoog and Jasaan police stations in Misamis Oriental.
He lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP) teams involved, specifically citing the assistance of Col. Ariel I. Pontillas, chief of the PNP Region 10 Detective Division, the Gingoog City police under Lt. Col. Dennis de los Santos, and the Jasaan municipal police.
Investigations revealed that after the alleged stabbing, the suspect drove the victim’s van through Claveria to the town of Jasaan.
Authorities discovered Valdevilla’s body inside the abandoned vehicle at 5:20 pm on Nov. 15. Police said the victim sustained multiple stab wounds.
