THE suspect who killed a policeman in Victorias City, Negros Occidental on September 2 is not a confidential agent of the Philippine Army.
This was confirmed by Chief Inspector Eduardo Corpuz, city police chief, in a media interview on Wednesday at Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) headquarters in Bacolod City.
Corpuz said they found out the two signatories on the mission order, which was presented by Richard Artagame, of E.B. Magalona town, to the police, allowing him to possess a firearm, were considered bogus.
“Those two signatories do not exist in the roster of the Philippine Army, thus, the suspect is not affiliated with the military,” he added.
Corpuz said they are exerting efforts to find the two persons who signed the mission order and the handler as well to file charges against them. Artagame’s handler also came out to be a scam, he added.
If we need to arrest him (handler), we will do it because a mission order cannot be easily given to anybody, it should come from the authorities, Corpuz said.
Earlier, Captain Ruel Llanes, civil military operations officer of 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Murcia town, said they do not know Artagame and he is not an asset of the military.
Artagame was involved in a shooting incident which resulted in the death of Senior Police Officer 2 (SPO2) Antonio Broce Jr., 43, a member of the alert team at the police station last week.
Broce was off-duty when he responded to a call for assistance from Edgar Saludes, who was first shot by Artagame without any reason.
Artagame is facing murder charges for Broce’s death. He is detained at Victorias City Police Station.
Corpuz said additional charges for frustrated murder, carnapping, and illegal possession of firearm will also be filed against the suspect. (GYM)