Police form group to probe lawyer’s killing

CATARMAN, Northern Samar – The Special Investigations Task Group Camacho was formed to probe the killing of a lawyer who was shot dead by motorcycle riding men on Friday.

Police Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Isaias Banez Tonog said a request to approve the “SITG Camacho” that will fast track the investigations and solve the case was submitted to Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Elmer Soria.

Tonog will head the SITG Camacho, which will be composed of the chiefs of the investigations and the intelligence sections of the Northern Samar Provincial Police Office (NSPPO), the Criminal Investigations and Detection Group (CIDG), the police legal investigations chief, the Catarman PNP and the Police Regional Investigations unit.

Lawyer Xerxes Balios Camacho, former President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Northern Samar Chapter, was gunned down by two riding in tandem suspects last August 20 at 5 p.m.

Balios was driving his motorcycle along Sitio Taguibian, Barangay Bangkerohan in Catarman town.

He was employed as Chief Administrative Officer and OIC Chief Security of the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP). The victim was hit by a single bullet in his left face that killed him instantly.

The police identified the suspects as Randy Agte Juanerio, 27, and Sonny Garalsa Latorre, 44, both residents of Purok 6, Barangay Tarabukan, Oquendo District in Calbayog City.

The police personnel assigned in the substation chased the suspects but the latter were able to elude leaving a black yellow Honda TMX 155 motorcycle with plate number 4240 HJ, a Red Bull cap and several other personal things.

The police consider the recovered items as strong evidence that will lead to solving the crime.

Police investigators here are yet to determine the motive on the killing of Camacho, who is described by friends as a peace loving and humble man.

Tonog said they are looking at an angle related to legal practice, as the victim has previously handled cases in Calbayog City.
Tonog’s men seized one of the suspects, Sonny Garalsa, in Calbayog City. He was brought to the NSPPO where he was taken to a series of investigations.

The suspect denied having any part in the crime. He said he just lent his motorcycle to Randy and his father with the promise that they will pay him.

“They just borrowed it and they said they will pay me later… then I learned that it was reportedly used in the shooting of a lawyer,” Garalsa said, denying the he knew Camacho.

Garalsa added that he turned over his motorcycle to Jose on August 15 with an agreement that the latter will pay him to buy it at P30,000. The police hope to use Garalsa as a state witness. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)