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Thursday, January 05, 2006
Two W. Visayas judges get threats; police ready to provide escorts
THE Regional Operation and Planning Division (ROPD) in Camp Delgado has recorded two judges in Western Visayas getting death threats.
Regional Trial Court Judges Jose Azarraga, of Iloilo and Rudy Castrojas of Antique reportedly are getting death threats.
Senior Supt. Isagani Cuevas, Police Regional Office 6 deputy regional director for operation, revealed that said threats were given solutions.
The police regional command did not elaborate on the cause for Azarraga's death threats and where it happened. Azarraga is now residing in Capiz province.
For Castrojas, his conviction on the accused in the Evelio Javier killing was identified as the motive for the threat.
Last January 28, 2005, a reported assassination plot for Castrojas was exposed.
The fracas started after several witnesses including the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces (Isaf) tipped Castrojas that one of the convicts in the Javier killing, Elizer Edemni, was seen in Iloilo City and Pototan onboard a private vehicle with a Tagalog-speaking armed group.
Edemni's group was said to have proceeded to Pototan, Iloilo and met with Sangguniang Bayan Member Fraulen "Palpal" Cordero with the plan to kil Castrojas.
Pototan Mayor Pablo Perez confirmed the presence of Edemni in Pototan despite his conviction and supposed detention in the Antique Provincial Jail.
Castrojas added that it was Isaf that validated the assassination attempt against his life.
A week after, Antique Gov. Salvacion Zaldevar-Perez ordered the outright transfer of the Javier killing convicts to Muntinlupa.
Escorts
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office through Deputy Regional Director for Operation (DRDO) Senior Supt. Isagani Cuevas, said they are willing to provide escorts to judges who received death threats.
This is aside from frisking every person who enters the Ramon Avancena Hall of Justice.
Cuevas said the temporary detail of said escorts to judges or even to public officials receiving threats is one month.
However, it could be extended, depending on the assessment of the Police Security and Protective Office (PSPO).
"Our office can provide temporary detail of our personnel for the judges while awaiting the approval of PSPO," Cuevas in a radio interview said.
It was learned that the police visibility at the Iloilo Hall of Justice is being strengthened recently because of several bomb threats received.
This also came after Pasay RTC Judge Henrick Gingoyon was gunned down last Dec. 31, 2005.
Suspects
The suspects in the killing were identified as Rodolfo Cruer, who was earlier reported as Robel Barocaluer Jr., the gunman;, Rudy Baclor, the look-out; and Filemon Romero who provided the gun used in the crime.
As to the alleged involvement of Senior Superintendent Manuel Barcena of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Civil Security Group, Mantele said they do not have yet evidence to link the police official to the crime.
Senior Superintendent Benjardi Mantele, chief of the Cavite police, said they are still considering in their investigation Gingoyon's previous dispute with Barcena.
Barcena denied any involvement in the judge's killing. He said he is ready to face any investigation as regards the incident to prove his innocence.
Arrest
The police Wednesday announced the arrest of a man who allegedly paid seven suspected members of a "gun-for-hire" group operating in Cavite province P150,000 to kill Gingoyon.
Mantele identified the suspect as Danny Hajid who was captured in Cavite early Wednesday morning.
Mantele said Hajid and the seven other suspects will stay in the Cavite Provincial Police Headquarters pending the filing of murder charges against them.
Mantele said they have enough evidence that would show the suspects' participation in the killing of Gingoyon. He said apart from the witnesses' testimonies, there is one among the suspects who admitted that they were paid by Hajid to assassinate the judge.
He said they could not present the suspects to the public until charges have been filed against them. He assured the suspects' families that those who would be found innocent of the crime would be released.
Gingoyon was walking home to Soldier's Hills Village, Brgy. Molino Bacoor, Cavite when a man crossed his path and shot him.( Jay Dooma Balnig and Ruby P. Silubrico
/Sunnex)
(January 5, 2006 issue)
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