THE Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday, January 20, 2022, that it respects the legal actions taken by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against nine policemen involved in the “ambush” of former Calbayog City mayor Ronaldo Aquino and his companions in March 2021.
“The PNP will extend full cooperation to the DOJ in the prosecution of this case even as we assure that the rights of the respondent police officers will be protected,” PNP spokesperson Colonel Roderick Augustus Alba said in a statement.
“We are hopeful, however, that the indictment will allow the respondent police officers to present their side and face their accusers in court in the interest of fair dispensation of justice,” he added.
On Thursday, January 20, the DOJ indicted Police Lieutenant Colonel Harry Villar Sucayre, 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 and Police Staff Sergeant Randy Caones Merelos for murder over the deaths of Aquino, his security escort Rodeo Stario, driver Dennis Abayon and passerby Clint Paul Yauder.
They were also charged with frustrated murder for the wounding of Aquino’s personal security aid, Mansfield Labonite.
Alba assured the availability of police respondents aside from the four who were already dismissed from police service upon the recommendation of the Internal Affairs Service, which found overwhelming evidence of administrative culpability against them.
The DOJ prosecutors said the cops' defense could not be given weight considering the positive assertions of the witnesses and the evidence gathered.
On March 8, Aquino and his companions were killed in what the police claimed to be a “shootout” along Laboyao Bridge in Barangay Lonoy in Calbayog City, Samar.
Based on investigation, however, the incident was found to be an ambush perpetrated by the cops. (SunStar Philippines)