Saturday, November 25, 2006 Probe bureau files raps v. hit men handlers By Rhodamae M. Hernandez
THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Southern Mindanao Friday filed murder charges against the alleged handlers of the assassins who killed the bodyguard of Davao del Sur Representative Douglas Ra. Cagas earlier this month.
The assassins have been killed in a shootout with policemen after the murder of Rico Condino, alias Tisoy, a close-in aide of Cagas.
Charged at the Digos City Prosecutor's Office were: retired police Senior Superintendent Jeorge Aquisap, Tony Hilario, Ricky Dizon, and Dean Banares. They are accused of having conspired with slay suspects Everit Prince Cuison alias Ivy, Aaron Ballarda, and Richard Lumbre alias Poloy.
Antonio Hilares and Romeo Alcala, the owner of the safe house and motorcycle used by the suspects, will be charged as an accomplice in the murder of the victim.
Condino died of three gunshot wounds in the face and eight in the body when he was shot by three gunmen in front of Vin Cris barbecue Hauz along Rizal Avenue corner Lim Street in Digos at around 8 p.m. of November 10.
The three assailants -- Ivy, Aaron, and Poloy -- were all killed in a shootout with responding policemen after the incident.
Witnesses in their sworn affidavits said they were invited by Ivy to spend their vacation in Digos City.
Poloy met them at the Davao City Terminal. They were made to board a bus going to Digos.
In Digos, they were fetched by Hilario and Dizon in a Mitsubishi Adventure and were brought to a safehouse in Matti in Digos City.
During their stay at the safehouse, Aquisap, Hilario, Dizon, and Banares came to the house, bringing a refrigerator, chairs, and food.
One afternoon, the witnesses claimed, the four men arrived again with the three slay suspects and this time they were gathered at the terrace for a meeting.
In that meeting, Hilario allegedly told Ivy in front of them to kill Condino then proceed to the Capitol after finishing the job.
The two witnesses went back to Davao City. A week later, Condino was killed.
