THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted nine police officers involved in the killing of former Calbayog City mayor Ronaldo Aquino and his companions in March 2021.
Four counts of murder will be filed against the policemen over the deaths of Aquino, his security escort Rodeo Stario, driver Dennis Abayon and civilian Clint Paul Yauder, who happens to be in the area during the shooting incident.
The policemen will also face frustrated murder charges over the wounding of Aquino’s personal security aid, Mansfield Labonite.
The charges will be filed before the Calbayog City regional trial court.
The nine policemen were identified as follows:
* Police Lieutenant Colonel Harry Villar Sucayre, team leader
* Police Major Shyrile Co Tan
* Police Captain Dino Laurente Goles
* Police Lieutenant Julio Salcedo Armeza Jr.
* Police Staff Sergeant Neil Matarum Cebu
* Police Staff Sergeant Edsel Tan Omega
* Patrolman Niño Cuadra Salem
* Police Corporal Julius Udtujan Garcia
* Police Staff Sergeant Randy Caones Merelos
There were also several John Does in the criminal information.
The DOJ prosecutors said the cops’ defense could not be given weight considering the positive assertions of the witnesses and the evidence gathered.
Aquino and his companions were killed by cops on March 8, 2021 on Laboyao Bridge in Barangay Lonoy, Calbayog City, Samar.
Captain Joselito Tabada, who was the police chief of Gandara, Samar and also the acting chief of Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), and Staff Sergeant Romeo Cobococ Laoyon of DEU were also killed.
Police claimed the incident was a shootout and that it was Aquino’s group who shot them first.