The villagers of San Pedro, Columbia and those from San Marcos played a crucial role in the capture of the alleged killer. They acted swiftly after the murder of a woman they respected and loved, and vowed to hunt down the man they believed had taken her life. Men, women and children carrying sticks, batons and machetes searched the bushes around the village, leaving no stone unturned. When their prey proved elusive, they put pressure on his family members, placing them under community arrest. Their actions have drawn both praise and criticism from the Punta Gorda Police Department.
Via Phone: Supt. Simeon Alvarez, Officer Commanding, Punta Gorda Formation
“We personally had no problem with the villagers assisting the Police in locating the suspect. We had no problem with that. Their cooperating with us in doing so was perfectly in order. But what they did when they detained the family members of the suspect…if they received cert
ain information that the family members were feeding or hiding the suspect, then they should have brought that information to the Police and then the Police should have been the ones to go after the family members, bring them to the station, and had an interview with them. Because, as what I explained to the Alcalde of that community, even though the residents of that community wanted the family to be detained, they had no authority because it is not them…they are not the suspect. That should have been left in the hands of the Police to make a decision there and then. But what I had to do that night when I responded to their call, I had to safeguard the family members. I had to bring them to the Punta Gorda Police Station and they were interviewed, and later on they were released the following day.”
All that means little to the residents of San Pedro, Columbia. An alleged killer has been captured and justice has been served in memory of Agripina Coc. Police say Choco has told them that he acted alone.
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