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Twenty-three police officers have been summoned to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to face the murder complaints against them concerning the killing of the aide of former Biliran Representative Glenn Chong and a female companion.
“Subpoenas have been issued to the respondents,” said Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Alexander Suarez, who has been assigned to handle the case.
Suarez cited that the respondents were directed to appear at the start of the preliminary investigation this Thursday and submit counter-affidavits in response to the allegations against them.
“Those who failed to file counter-affidavits will be given another chance,” he assured.
Last May 17, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal complaints concerning the December killing of Chong’s aide, Richard Santillan and his female companion Gessamyn Casing last in Barangay San Andres in Cainta, Rizal.
In its complaint, the NBI named as respondents for obstruction of justice Calabarzon police regional director Brig. Gen. Edward Carranza; Carranza, Rizal provincial director Col. Lou Evangelista; and Cainta police chief Lt. Col. Pablito Naganag.
While, two counts of murder and one count of planting of evidence were filed against seven officers from Cainta police station led by Lt. Sandro Ortega, four officers from provincial office of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group led by Capt. John Russel Barnacha and 10 operatives of Regional Special Operations Unit led by M/Sgt. Rene Eufracio.
Following the conduct of an investigation and forensic examination, the NBI concluded that the incident was a rubout and not a shootout as claimed by the police officers.
“The concerted acts of the above police officers, before, during and after the death of (Santillan and Casing), indubitably show causal relation, thus pointing to a joint purpose, a unity of action and a community of interest – to kill Santillan and Casing,” the complaint read.
The NBI stressed that “Santillan and Casing were continuously fired upon by surrounding heavily armed police officers resulting in multiple gunshot wounds to the different parts of their bodies, which caused their deaths.”
“Needless to say, Santillan and Casing were like sitting ducks overwhelmingly vulnerable to attack and clearly unable to protect their lives,” the complaint stated.
Earlier, Carranza and his men claimed that the incident last December was part of their legitimate police operations against the so-called “Highway Boys” involved in drug trade, carnapping, robbery and killings in Floodway in Cainta.
They claimed that the police operatives spotted the unregistered Toyota Fortuner that was supposedly being used by the syndicate in its operations, which at that time was being driven by Santillan.
They allegedly tried to flag down the vehicle but Santillan sped off resulting in a chase. When Santillan fired at the operatives, they said they were forced to retaliate.
However, the NBI stated that witnesses testified that they “did not see the occupants of the vehicle fired any shot towards the police officers because the windows of the SUV were closed the entire time.”
Also, the witnesses testified that a female voice was heard from the vehicle shouting: “Hindi po ako, wala akong alam (Not me, I know nothing).”
The NBI also pointed out “the examination conducted on the clothes and the hands of the victims rendered negative results as to the presence of gunpowder nitrates.”
Source and Original Article from: >>> Manila Bulletin
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