21 cops charged over death of Calbayog mayor

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) Internal Affairs Service (IAS) has filed administrative charges against 21 policemen over the death of former Calbayog City mayor Ronaldo Aquino in March.

Charges of grave misconduct and grave irregularity in the performance of duty were filed against:

• Lieutenant Colonel Harry Sucayre, Visayas Internal Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG);
• Lieutenant Colonel Shyrile Tan, Visayas Internal Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG);
• Lieutenant Julio Armeza Jr., Visayas Internal Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG);
• Staff Sergeant Neil Cebu of Samar Provincial Police Office Explosives Ordnance Division;
• Corporal Edsel Omega of Samar Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU);
• Corporal Ariel Advincula, Police Regional Office 8;
• Corporal Marlon Rellita, Police Regional Office 8; and
• Corporal Ramil Rosales, Police Regional Office 8.

Charged for grave irregularity in the performance of duty for not following the PNP operational procedures in the conduct of operations are the following members of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit:

• Captain Dino Goles
• Senior Master Sergeant Jimmy Jurdan
• Staff Sergeant Nelson Cabrito
• Staff Sergeant Joey Uy
• Staff Sergeant Cyrus Cañoneo
• Staff Sergeant Randy Merelos
• Staff Sergeant Joseph Pilapil
• Corporal Julius Garcia
• Corporal Remart Obseñares
• Patrolman Niño Salem
• Patrolman Angie Daprosa

Colonel Michael David, director of IMEG Visayas, and Lieutenant Colonel Neil Montaño, the Regional Intelligence Division of PRO8 were charged for less grave neglect of duty over command responsibility.

IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said policemen charged for grave misconduct and grave irregularity in the performance may be dismissed from the service.

He said all these policemen were under restrictive custody at the PRO 8.

"Para 'yung mga witnesses ng biktima para walang influence kasi may politics involve pinatransfer ang venue ng trial dito sa National IAS kaya inulit nanaman namin ang investigation pero nasa summary dismissal proceedings na yan," said Triambulo.

The National Bureau of Investigation earlier filed murder and frustrated murder charges against nine individuals, including seven policemen, namely, Sucayre, Tan, Goles, Armeza, Cebu, Omega and Salem, for planning Aquino's killing.

The NBI said a whistleblower, Police Master Sergeant Jose Jay Scenario, claimed that Aquino's political rival tapped the PNP to obtain a search warrant against the mayor and tag him as the protector of a policeman involved in the illegal drug trade.

He said the ambush on the mayor had long been planned.

Aquino and two of his companions were killed in an alleged encounter with the police on March 8, 2021 along Laboyao Bridge in Barangay Lonoy in Calbayog City.

Police claimed they were not aware that Aquino was inside the vehicle, noting that his group fired at them first which prompted them to retaliate.

Killed on the police side were Captain Joselito Tabada who was the police chief of Gandara Samar and also the acting chief of PDEA, and Staff Sergeant Romeo Cobococ Laoyon of PDEU.

A civilian identified as Clint John Paul Yauder was also killed after being hit by a stray bullet during the crossfire. (VoxPop Philippines)