“If I find out that one of your policemen had a hand [in] the death of my son, God forbid… I know you don’t tolerate this, but let me be very, very frank: If they know how to kill people, so do I.”

That’s the online message that retired intelligence officer SPO4 Alfredo Jebulan addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte and Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

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Jebulan was venting his rage over the death of his son, 21-year-old Yani Jebulan, whom motorcycle-riding gunmen shot at close range in the head at around 12:38 a.m.

Yani, a third year psychology student at Our Lady of Fatima University in Antipolo, died on the spot, while his companion, 21-year-old Arnel Cinco, who was shot thrice in the neck and body, was taken to the hospital.

The attack happened at a store on Sta. Rosa Road, Purok II in Peñafrancia in Cupang, Antipolo, about a kilometer away from the Jebulan residence, according to Supt. Ruben Andiso, acting police chief of Antipolo.

“I’m begging you. Help me solve the unnecessary death of my son, please, or I will be the one to do it without your help,’’ said the elder Jebulan, 64, whose statement was posted on Facebook by daughter Miah.

Jebulan maintained that Yani, the youngest of his five children, “has never been involved in any illegal drug habit” or in drug peddling.

“I’m well aware of this because as a retired policeman I am very strict with my children,” Jebulan said.

“It was my job when I was still in active service to arrest those involved in drug activities,’’ said Jebulan, who last served in the intelligence unit of the Rizal provincial police before retiring in 2003.

Celebrating good grades

In an interview with the Inquirer, the elder Jebulan said his son was at a store having a drink with friends on Friday night to celebrate Yani’s good grades in the just-ended semester.

The gunmen, he said, approached his son and Cinco, and saw that they were the last in their group who had remained at the store.

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“My son drinks but he was never into drugs,” Jebulan said. “I like President Duterte’s drug war campaign, especially if it will help us get rid of drug addicts, recidivists and rampant pushers. But my son is innocent.”

Apparently alluding to his online statement on the possible involvement of policemen in Yani’s death, he said: “As intelligence officers, we know the records of policemen; we know their anomalies; we know them.”

“That’s why I’m asking for President Duterte’s help, because he is the commander in chief. These are his policemen.”

Also reached by the Inquirer, Miah said her father almost died after learning about what happened to Yani and because of the way some netizens reacted to his statement.

“They do not understand,” she said in another post. “Nobody wants extrajudicial killings. We are not blaming Duterte. We just want justice.” –ATM

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