Sunday, March 25, 2007 Ambush-slay suspect a hired killer? By Victor L. Camion
THE Philippine National Police in Negros Oriental is studying leads that may link an ambush-slay suspect as hitman hired by big politicians in the first district.
Police Provincial Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe said the identity of Sandalo Mangolore entails a lot of connections that might involve big personalities.
Buenafe is not discounting the possibility that the suspect could have been hired by a politician since the first district has an intense political rivalry.
"That is why we have closely secured all the evidence and (intend to) ensure a thorough investigation of the case," said Buenafe.
The suspect was arrested while riding a red Kawasaki Bajaj motorcycle.
The motorcycle is allegedly registered under the name of Miguel Vergara of La Libertad, Negros Oriental, wherein an ambushed recently happened that killed seven people.
Confiscated from Mangolore's possession were a .45 caliber pistol with magazine and seven live bullets.
The police also found inside the motorcycle's utility box a black bonnet.
Buenafe said they have submitted for ballistics examination the confiscated .45 caliber firearms to cross match it with the empty shells and live ammunitions of a .45 caliber recovered by police probers from the crime scene in the La Libertad ambush on March 9, 2007.
He said a thorough investigation of the case and careful examination of the evidences that they have gathered are currently being done to pin down the suspect.
He also said they will have to check the identity of Vergara whose name appeared in the motorcycles registration record.
Illegal arrest
Suspect's legal counsels Anna Priscilla Pareja and Felipe Pareja complained against the manner of arrest on their client Mangolore.
Mangolore's arrest, they said, was totally unfair because the police did not read the mandatory Miranda doctrine.
They explained that the suspect was not informed of his rights.
Felipe said they are planning to file charges against the agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the alleged illegal arrest of his client.
Charges of violation of human rights will also be filed in court.
For his part, Buenafe is confident that his men did not violate any law.
Buenafe said Mangolore is considered a fugitive of justice.
Mangolore is a murder suspect in Siaton and was apprehended by joint forces of PNP and NBI Dumaguete Friday.
The 39-year-old suspect is a father of three children of Banilad, Dumaguete City.
Mangolore was plugged down during a checkpoint of the Commission on Elections through the Bindoy police forces.
Mangolore allegedly failed to show his driver's license while the motorcycle's registration is expired.
The police also noticed that a .45 pistol was tucked in his waist.
Mangolore was not able to show a permit to carry firearm and the firearm's license.
Immediately, he was arrested for violation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban and illegal possession of firearm and ammunitions.
Violation of the traffic laws are also separate charges.
But the suspect, through his legal counsels, posted a bail bond amounting P80,000 for illegal possession of firearm and another P24,000 for violation of Comelec gun ban before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) of Bais City.
Mangolore was released by the Bindoy PNP after MTCC Judge Rogaciano Rivera issued an order of release in favor of the suspect.
But NBI Dumaguete, as filed by officer Lawyer Dominador Cimafranca, provided a copy of an alias warrant of arrest against Randy Mongolare issued by Executive Judge Rosendo Bandal Jr.
Mongolore and Mongolare is allegedly one person charged with murder in Siaton on June 2003.
But the suspect's legal counsels insisted that their client is Sandalo Mangolore not Randy Mongolare as written in the alias warrant.
Multiple aliases
At least four witnesses positively identified Mangolore's real name is Randy Mangolare and either Sandalo or Sandalio Mangolare.
Alexis Tropa and Diego Eluspa -- two of the four witnesses -- identified the suspect as Randy Mangolare.
He said Randy was working as bodyguard of Mely Alarcio, who is a realtor, and was also operating a beer house in Zamboaguita in 2003.
Mangolore's murder co-accused Dandan Elloren, who is now detained at the Provincial Jail, also identified the suspect as Randy Mangolare.
Elloren added that Randy stole the motorcycle and killed the motorcycle owner, Jose Eluspa, in June 2003.
