Police chief, neophyte cop face murder raps in Antique killing

By Florence F. Hibionada

A ranking police officer and a neophyte cop stand accused of murder following the gruesome killing of a former detainee of the Laua-an police station in the province of  Antique.

Inspector Jovencio Orbien, Jr., chief of police of Laua-an PNP, and PO1 Randy Dalumpines were arrested Friday last week by virtue of warrants of arrest issued by Judge Victorio Maniba of the 4th Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) in Barbasa, Antique.
Orbien and Dalumpines were pointed by their fellow policemen as responsible for the killing of Jerry Samsona.

Samsona of Brgy. Bungbungan, Laua-an, a former detainee at Laua-an PNP, was believed to be mentally ill.

PO3 Jimarco Aguirre, PO2 Ernesto Elican, PO2 John Guno and PO1 Sammy Robles executed affidavits pointing to the duo as responsible for the killing of Samsona.
Dalumpines allegedly shot Samsona in front of the Laua-an Municipal Hall on the night of September 23.

After shooting Samsona, Dalumpines together with Orbien and another cop who acted as their driver decided to bring the victim to a hospital in San Jose, Antique on board the police patrol vehicle.

However, upon reaching a bridge Orbien allegedly ordered Dalumpines to finish off Samsona then dump his body in the river.
Samsona's body was found the following day along the river off Barangay Durog in San Jose town.

Orbien and Dalumpines were immediately relieved from their posts and are currently placed under custody of the San Jose PNP.

Criminal and administrative charges are being readied against the two according to Senior Supt. Isagani Cuevas, Deputy Regional Director for Operations (DRDO) of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).

Cuevas added that further investigation is being conducted on the case to find out the real motive of the crime.