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Thursday, May 10, 2007
Murder raps filed v. poll bet, ex-cop
By Jovy S. Taghoy
CEBU CITY -- A rival of mayoral aspirant and a former policeman were tagged as the suspects in the murder of Sta. Fe town mayoral candidate Rogelio Ilustrisimo Sr.
Police Director Geary Barias, chief of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, and members of Task Force Ilustrisimo headed by Senior Superintendent Patrocinio Comendador, announced in a press conference Wednesday the filing of murder complaints against former policeman PO1 Arnulfo Pigon Jr., 38, and Domingo Zaspa.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
Zaspa of the One Cebu-Kampi party has filed a disqualification case against Ilustrisimo, who was running for the mayoral post under the Lakas-CMD party in Sta. Fe town in Bantayan Island, Cebu.
Pigon was identified as the gunman a week after the killing of Ilustrisimo outside the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office at Capitol compound about 10:20 a.m.
Zaspa was implicated as the principal suspect by direct participation after he was seen talking to the suspected gunman a day after the fatal shooting.
Link
Barias said three witnesses at the crime scene gave a "direct identification" of Pigon, who was formerly assigned at the Special Weapons and Tactics of the Mandaue City Police Office.
"We also have testimonies linking mayoral candidate Domingo Zaspa in this case," Barias said, adding that the motive for the killing is political and election-related.
The hunt for Pigon continues.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who visited Cebu Wednesday, reportedly ordered the police to intensify the manhunt after Pigon eluded arrest during an operation by members of Task Force Ilustrisimo in Sitio New Light, Barangay Divisoria, Cawayan, Masbate last Tuesday afternoon.
PRO 7 Director Silverio Alarcio Jr., in an ABS-CBN-TV Patrol Cebu report, said the President was "very concerned" about the incident.
Conspiracy
Acting Cebu City Police Director Comendador said they have sufficient evidence to indict Zaspa for the killing based on the "implied conspiracy theory, which means the act of one is the act of all."
Incumbent Sta. Fe Mayor Roger Ilustrisimo, son of the slain Ilustrisimo, also identified Zaspa at the crime scene through the footage taken by the security camera within the Capitol compound.
"We already established probable cause against Zaspa. We have a witness linking Zaspa to Pigon," Comendador said.
He said Zaspa was also spotted meeting with Pigon right after the shooting, in a hotel in the city.
"We have sufficient evidence to file our case, but we have until the arraignment to strengthen our case. For now, based on evidence (Zaspa) is not the mastermind. He is a principal (suspect) by direct participation. But read between the lines. Mastermind is generic, not a legal term," he said.
Comendador said the task force has yet to determine and identify the link or middleman between Zaspa and Pigon.
The task force, made up of operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7, almost caught up with Pigon but the latter was quick to escape.
Safehouse
The task force, assisted by a CIDG team in Masbate and the Masbate Provincial Police Office, went to the hideout of Pigon at 2 p.m. Tuesday, after receiving reports about his presence.
The safehouse owned by one Inspector Nicole Ygot, who is reportedly a relative of Pigon, is near the sea, secured by a high fence and surrounded by squatters.
Police are also verifying reports that Pigon is being coddled by a politician in Masbate Province, which has been placed under Comelec control for the May 14 elections.
When the operatives reached the house, they spotted Pigon with four other people in a makeshift hut at the back of the house.
Pigon, however, saw the police operatives. A brief shootout allegedly occurred, but Pigon managed to escape towards the squatters' area.
The operatives scoured the area for more than two hours.
In his hurry, Pigon reportedly left behind his .45 pistol with seven bullets. One empty shell was also recovered.
As for Ygot, who is assigned at the Masbate City Police Office, Chief Insp. Ronald Briones of CIDG Masbate is considering filing complaints against the police officer and his wife for allegedly harboring a suspect. (Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (May 10, 2007 issue)
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