By Jennifer P. Rendon
Information and assumptions, both from credible sources and ordinary citizens alike, have spread by word of mouth and social media on the possible motive and persons behind the death of businesswoman Claire Diergos.
But take it from the horse’s mouth: “There are no suspects yet. We don’t have any credible eyewitness, in the meantime,” Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo police chief, said.
But it does not mean that police investigators are still groping in the dark in their quest to solve Diergos’s death.
Gorero said they have been following leads that might help identify Claire’s killers. It also helped that authorities have established that the primary crime scene was the victim’s house at Deca Homes in Pavia, Iloilo.
A luminol test on Oct 29, 2021 confirmed invisible bloodstains on the floor of Diergos’s room, closet, comfort room, and washing machine
Meanwhile, amid speculations and theories on Claire’s death, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) has asked the public to give leeway to investigators to conduct an in-depth probe.
“Just like the public, we also want to solve this case and haul to court the real perpetrators. We also want to give justice to her family,” Gorero said.
And the last thing the police want is “to spread information or make a move that would jeopardize the investigation,” he said.
Gorero said that it might be counter-productive to publicly discuss the ongoing investigation and what they are going to do next.
On Oct 27, the IPPO created a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that would focus on solving Diergos’s death.
Police earlier said they are looking into three possible motives in Claire’s death.
Major Raymond Celoso, Sta. Barbara police chief, enumerated these motives as revenge, jealousy, and robbery.
Celoso did not elaborate to avoid jeopardizing their ongoing investigation.
Given the number of angles the police are looking into, several persons are also deemed as persons of interest.
Celoso claimed, though, that at least two persons may have attacked the victim.
He is also not discounting the possibility that the mastermind was not one of the killers, hinting at the probability that the actual perpetrators were hired.
There were also indications that the killers tried to mislead the investigators.
Police have already gathered footages from at least 15 Closed-Circuit TV cameras – 7 are with Sta. Barbara police and eight in Pavia.
Based on the footages, Diergos’s sports utility vehicle (SUV) went out of Deca Homes around 4:20 a.m. of Oct 24.
It exited to a shortcut road leading to Barangay Balabag, Sta Barbara.
It navigated the road passing the villages of Hibao-an (Sta. Barbara), Buyo, Tagsing, a portion of Pal-ahgon, and Balibagan Este before reaching Inangayan, where her vehicle was later found with her body inside.
Celoso said they have not dissected the information of a Mitsubishi Pajero seen at several areas where Diergos’s vehicle also passed through.
As this developed, the SIT is now digging more information on the individuals that were seen with or have talked to Claire prior to her death.
Gorero said they are gathering testimonies and scientific evidence that would stand in court.
He also encouraged individuals who have knowledge of the crime to contact the SIT hotline via 0998-967-3719.
Informants could also send a message to Iloilo Police Provincial Office Facebook Page’s Messenger.
REWARD
Gorero also confirmed that Mayor Luigi Gorriceta of Pavia offered a P100,000 cash reward for information that would help solve Diergos’s death.
Gorriceta personally called Gorero about the reward on Oct 31.
Police did not comment on earlier reports that a businessman and Diergos’s friends offered P300,000 as reward.
Immediately after Claire’s death, Carlo Hubo and their common friends have pooled together P300,000 for the identification and possible arrest of the suspect or suspects.
Hubo was particularly referring to the man last seen with the victim.
But the IPPO said Hubo’s reward offer was not coordinated with their office.
