SINGER-ACTOR Janno Gibbs, son of veteran actor Ronaldo Valdez appealed to members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to publicly apologize for mishandling his father’s case.
In a press conference, his lawyer, Lorna Kapunan read the statement on his behalf :
“The sudden death of my father Ronaldo Valdez on December 17, 2023 shocked, not just my family, but the entire showbiz industry. Before my family could process our grief, we faced even more pain due to the oblivious handling of the investigation by the Philippine National Police, leading to the unauthorized release of the video online detailing the investigation and the subsequent thoughtless social media posts – some sharing my private information and others circulating fake news, even outrageously suggesting that I had a part in my father’s death.
“Such negligent handling of the investigation, and the consequent media attacks against my family caused us immense emotional distress. We strongly denounce, in the strongest terms possible, the evident mismanagement of the investigation and mishandling of sensitive data showing apparent lapses and breaches of confidentiality on the part of the Investigation Team. Such reckless actions of certain individuals in leaking sensitive information are deeply alarming – not just for my family, but for society as a whole,” he added.
On December 17, Valdez’ body was discovered by his driver in his room at his home in New Manila, Quezon City.
The actor was rushed to hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. He was 76.
The Quezon City Police District later confirmed that a.45 caliber pistol with an empty magazine was found near Valdez’s body.
Three police officers were relieved from their positions after graphic footage taken by first responders was leaked online. The Quezon City government ordered an investigation into the leak while the actor’s manager Jamela Santos threatened to take legal action against those responsible. Three civilians who also uploaded the footage on social media were charged for cybercrime offenses and breaches of privacy laws.
