Monday, May 21, 2007 2 murder raps vs Claude, 9 aides By Ben O. Tesiorna
Slain mayoral candidate Isidro Sarmiento and son Danilo laid to rest Sunday Police provincial director also faces axe after assuring PRO 11 earlier that Davao del Sur politicians do not have private armies
DOUBLE murder charges are set to be filed against Davao del Sur Representative Claude Bautista and nine of his bodyguards over the death of a Malita mayoralty candidate and his son, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) here said.
While Sunday afternoon, the victims -- Malita mayoral candidate Isidro Sarmiento and his son Danilo -- were laid to rest by relatives and supporters who were demanding justice.
The lawmaker who is running for governor along with eight of his co-accused are believed to be in hiding now after being accused of shooting dead the Sarmientos last week.
The case is expected to be filed by the NBI Monday, before the Provincial Prosecutors Office in Digos City.
To be named respondents are Representative Bautista and his bodyguards identified as Allan Estrada, alias Sisi, alias Arman Rellon, alias Payat, alias Palog Sarol, alias Panday, alias Ricky, alias Norman and Tito Alipaopao who was wounded and is now under police custody at the Limso Hospital here in Davao City.
But, it has been intimated to Sun Star that Bautista, along with his eight bodyguards, are now nowhere to be found in Malita and are believed hiding somewhere.
Talks are even rife about an army official giving the suspects protection.
NBI agents all over the country, along with Task Force Sarmiento, are now trying to track down the suspected killers.
TF Sarmiento is composed of elements from the NBI, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco), intelligence operatives of the Davao del Sur Provincial Police Office.
Police Superintendent Jaime Pido, deputy provincial director and head of the Task Force Sarmiento, is set to have an emergency conference at the regional police headquarters in Catitipan Monday to map our their plan of action.
Heads roll
After the relief of the Malita chief of police, Davao del Sur Police Provincial Director Anselmo Pinili will reportedly be axed as well due to his failure to take action on the armed groups of the Bautistas.
Deputy Regional Director for Operations Samuel Navaja said Pinili earlier reported to Police Regional Director Andres Caro that politicians in Davao del Sur do not maintain any private army or armed goons.
It was later found out that the fully armed bodyguards of Representative Bautista are private armed men and not police or military personnel.
It was learned that after the May 16 incident, Bautista and his bodyguards even went to the Malita Police to report the incident.
Laid to rest
Isidro and Danilo Sarmiento were finally laid to rest Sunday afternoon.
The victims were buried at their property in Felis town, Malita around one in the afternoon.
Relatives and supporters of the Sarmientos paraded the victims' hearse in the Poblacion before proceeding with the burial.
Several police and military personnel were on hand to secure the crowd from any attacks.
Navaja was tasked to implement order in Malita especially during Sunday's burial.
"Ako nang gipakatag atong kapulisan ilabi na sa paglubong aron walay dautang mahitabo sa mga mohatud sa lubong (I deployed the police during the burial so that nothing untoward will happen especially to those joining the funeral march)," Navaja said.
Personnel from the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) Southern Mindanao arrived in Malita a day after the relief of Malita police chief Senior Inspector Gabriel Luceñara who was replaced by Chief Inspector Antonio Placido.
