Friday, May 30, 2008 Gang leader killed by own colleagues By Ben O. Tesiorna
SUSPECTS behind the ambush-killing of a suspected leader of a notorious robbery group in Davao City could be members of the same group who have personal grudge with the victim.
This was floated as one of the angles being looked into by police who are now investigating the incident.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Jaime Morente said they received information that Chigo Gang members are not only violent with their victims but also have violent tendencies towards their colleagues.
He said it is possible that the own men of Nerito Calimbo could be behind his death, along with his wife, Jocelyn, and brother-in-law, Aaron Sumitso.
Morente, however, did not discount the possibility that Calimbo's former colleagues in the New People's Army (NPA) could also be behind the ambush. It was learned that Calimbo is a member of the NPA until 2003 when he decided to give up the armed struggle.
The angle of robbery is also being eyed as motive. A handbag of one of the victims containing P40,000 was allegedly missing.
Morente said they are now looking into the missing bag report.
Protective custody
The two witnesses to the crime are now under protective custody of the police.
Morente said the grandmother of one of the witness however decided to bring the latter to their residence.
He said they already dispatched policemen to the residence of the witness to ensure his safety.
Morente said the taxi driver, who is the other witness, saw one of the four suspects.
The two witnesses gave the description of one of the suspects to the police that resulted to the release of the cartographic sketch.
No business deals
Morente also denied that he personally knew Calimbo and had business dealings with him in the past.
Morente admitted though that he could have met Calimbo in the past but not on a personal basis.
He said Calimbo was just name-dropping when the victim revealed his "personal" relation with him.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested Calimbo last week.
Warned
Before Calimbo was released by the CIDG and later on ambushed by four motorcycle-riding assassins, CIDG-Southern Mindanao chief Jose Jorge Corpuz allegedly warned the victim that he is being targeted for assassination.
Corpuz reportedly told Calimbo "mag-ingat ka at mainit ka."
The CIDG-Southern Mindanao chief admitted saying such but clarified that it was based on presumption that Calimbo's enemies would take advantage of his release from CIDG detention.
Corpuz said it is for this reason that he was trying to "delay" the release of Calimbo from their detention.
He said the victim, however, decided to avail of his right to bail, which the court granted, thus his release.
His wife Jocelyn, 21-year-old son Norman, and brother-in-law Aaron fetched him. They were on their way to Bankerohan around 4:30 p.m. when two motorcycles boarded by four suspects attacked them upon reaching the corner of San Pedro and Legazpi streets.
Norman, who was seated in front, along with the taxi driver, was spared by the killers. The three victims at the back of the taxi were all killed from the hail of bullets. The couple was said to be members of the NPA.
Calimbo is reportedly an aide of Bernardo Chigo alias Jun Muslim, alleged founder of Chigo robbery gang that is believed to be involved in several robbery cases in Southern Mindanao.
Calimbo reportedly took leadership of the gang after the death of Chigo, who was shot dead by SPO1 Apolonio Bactol of the San Pedro Police on May 22 after he allegedly tried to snatch the firearm of one of his police escorts as they were on their way to the Davao city jail in Ma-a.
