|
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Mayor, cop tagged in slay of teenager
PADADA Mayor Antonio Razonable, along with Police Officer 3 Michael Geral and five bodyguards, were accused of murdering a 16-year-old boy in Sulop, Davao del Sur in April this year.
In his complaint filed before the Ombudsman last week, Edilberto Angao accused Razonable of killing his son, Albert Kay Angao, after a car chase involving the mayor and Angao's friends.
Angao and his friends identified as Rosekhan Singkala, Dennis Cortez and Macdonald Alvarado were said to be on their way to General Santos City from Digos when the two motorcycles they were riding were flagged down by armed men along Padada early morning of April 16.
Frightened by the presence of armed men, Angao and his friends sped away after hearing some shots fired. A dirty-white pickup reportedly chased the teenagers while firing at them with their automatic rifles.
Angao and Singkala were in one motorcycle while Cortez and Alvarado were on another motorcycle. Angao, Singkala and Cortez were hit by the volley of fire coming from the pickup.
In their affidavits, the victims positively identified Mayor Razonable and Geral as those who chased and fired at them.
Razonable was said to be sitting on the front seat and armed with a pistol while Geral was at the back armed with a rifle. The five other companion of the mayor were said to be wearing bonnets over their head and were said to be members of the civilian security unit.
Singkala said they were unaware that the armed men who flagged them down in Padada were government enforcers since the alleged checkpoint was bereft of any signage and illumination.
He said even the vehicle that was chasing them did not bear any markings of a government vehicle.
Singkala said they decided to stop at the Sulop Overland Terminal to give up to the people chasing them after he discovered that he had a bullet wound.
Singkala said Razonable's group, however, passed by them while firing their arms.
"The two of us fell to the ground after being hit, so with the motorcycle we were riding on. After shooting at us, the dirty white pickup left without even providing us with assistance," Singkala stated in his affidavit.
He said they were lying on the ground for two hours without any medical assistance while curious onlookers and police authorities arrived at the scene to investigate.
Singkala sustained two gunshot wounds while Angao died instantly from the multiple gunshot wounds he incurred.
Cortez, in his affidavit, meanwhile said Geral hit Alvarado with his open palm after the teenager did not immediately comply with Geral's order to drop to the ground.
Unconfirmed reports reaching Sun.Star showed that Razonable's group was claiming to have chased the victims after Angao allegedly fired a .38 caliber revolver at one Felix Pin earlier.
Paraffin test on Angao however tested negative. The father added that the revolver allegedly recovered from the crime scene was "planted".
This was attested by the testimony of Sulop Councilman Robustiano Mag-aso who was at the crime scene when police investigator identified only as Buenaflor arrived.
Mag-aso said Buenaflor inspected Angao's personal belongings that time but there was never a revolver found inside Angao's bag.
Mag-aso said he was shocked to have learned later from a television report that a revolver was found in the crime scene.
In a text message, Razonable denied all the accusations against him.
"I am innocent of the complaint," Razonable said. (BOT)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (September 17, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
