Wednesday, November 22, 2006 Lawmaker: Probe bureau has proof v. assassins' boss By Ben O. Tesiorna
MURDER charges are now being readied against the suspected handler of the hired assassins who killed the bodyguard of Davao del Sur Representative Douglas Ra Cagas early this month, as Cagas himself claimed.
In a telephone interview, Cagas said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), who is the lead agency probing the incident, has already gathered sufficient evidence to charge the handler of the five gunmen who killed Rico Condino last November 10.
However, Cagas's claim was denied by a source in the NBI who said they are still in the process of gathering evidences to establish probable cause.
The handler is reportedly a retired policeman who is now working as a bodyguard of a politician.
Cagas said two of the living suspects will turn state witness and would testify against the handler.
Suspects Walter Pueblo and one alias Arnold were arrested by the authorities in Cagayan de Oro City recently.
The other suspects, Everit Prince Cuison alias Ivy, Aaron Ballarda, and Richard Lumbre alias Poloy, were all killed in a shootout with the responding policemen last November 10.
A certain Copa (codename of the politician) is said to be the mastermind behind the murder of Condino.
There were reports that Copa hired 10 more assassins to liquidate all of the policemen who killed the five assassins as well as people close to Cagas.
In a follow up with the NBI-Southeastern Mindanao, investigators said they are still investigating the incident and that no suspect/s had been identified yet.
Meanwhile, the Bautista brothers of Davao del Sur have finally made a statement on the ongoing investigation on the death of Condino.
Governor Benjamin Bautista, through his provincial information officer Marivic Hubac, denied Tuesday reports that his chief security officer is involved in the death of Condino.
Earlier reports showed that the motorcycle recovered from the assassins who killed Condino belongs to Bautista's security officer who is a former police colonel.
Bautista said Condino's death could have been perpetrated by anyone whom the victim had dealings with back when he was still the New Peoples Army's liquidation squad Sparrow Unit.
He said it is unfair on their part to be outrightly accused when there is not enough evidence to prove such.
"What is supposed to be questioned is that why Cagas hired Tisoy (Condino) as bodyguard when it is already known to almost everyone that he does not have a good background," Hubac said.
