AUTHORITIES have filed charges against seven suspects in the killing of National Center for Mental Health director Roland Cortez, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Ronnie Montejo announced on Tuesday, August 25, 2020.
Charges of double counts of murder were filled against Sonny Mitra Sandicho, 42; Clarita Mendoza Avila, NCMH chief administrative officer; George Serrano and Harly Pagarigan, both employees of the NCMH; Albert Eugenio, 44; Ma. Cristina Riego Dela Cruz; Edieson Mitra Riego, 26; and several John Does before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court .
Cortez and his driver, Ernesto Dela Cruz were shot dead by motorcycle riding men on the morning of July 27 at Cassanova Drive corner Tandang Sora Avenue.
Major Elmer Monsalve, QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit chief, said Avila was identified as the mastermind of the killing while Pagarigan and Serrano served as the gunmen.
Sandicho, Eugenio, Dela Cruz and Riego were responsible for hiding the vehicle used by the gunmen as a getaway car. The vehicle was identified through its license plate and the testimonies of the witnesses.
Of the suspects, only Eugenio has been arrested because a warrant for his arrest for murder had been issued. He was the number 7 most wanted person of the Eastern Police District.
Monsalve said Avila plotted Cortez’s execution after the latter launched anti-corruption reforms and investigation in the agency.
He said Avila was among those charged by the National Bureau of Investigation Anti-Graft Division before the Office of the Ombudsman over anomalies in the NCMH.
"He (Cortez) exposed the anomalies in NCMH. He filed cases against officials, including Clarita Avila. That's when the threats came," Monsalve said.
Monsalve said there were witnesses from the NCMH who said they saw Avila, Sandicho, Pagarigan and Serrano in a “meeting” before the killing happened. (SunStar Philippines)