Murder case filed vs suspects in killing of QC deputy prosecutor

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra announced on Monday that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had filed a murder complaint against three police officers accused of being involved in the death of Quezon City Deputy Prosecutor Rogelio Velasco.

“NBI solves the case of QC Deputy City Prosecutor Rogelio Velasco,” Guevarra told reporters.

He said the murder complaint had been filed before the Quezon City Prosecutors Office.

Named as respondents are SPO2 Rodante Sicat Lalimarmo, PO3 Arthur Yasonia Lucy and PO1 Jose Lunar Mercado – all still in active service.

Also included in the complaint are seven John Does and one Jane Doe.

The complaint is a result of a three-month investigation conducted by the bureau.

NBI Deputy Director Vicente De Guzman III said the motive behind the killing was work-related but refused to give other details.

Velasco was shot to death on May 11, 2018 on Holy Spirit Drive in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City.

He was driving his red Toyota Innova when a white Toyota Innova with plate number XNR 256 blocked his path. Four armed men stepped out of the white car and fired at Velasco.

He was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival due to multiple gunshot wounds.

Death Investigation Division (DID) Investigation Agent Ariel Ross Calub said they were able to identify the suspects based on witnesses’ testimonies and closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage.

He said based on the CCTV footage, the suspects met inside the Quezon Memorial Circle.

Some of the suspects were in the white Toyota Innova, while others came in a black Toyota
Fortuner.

The suspect left the Quezon Memorial Circle some 15 to 20 minutes prior to the crime,
according to Calub.

Velasco is the first prosecutor attacked this year and the seventh attacked since October 2016.

On Oct. 26, 2016, Mati City Prosecutor Rolando Acido was killed outside the Mati City Hall of Justice.

On Jan. 11, 2017, Quezon City Prosecutor Noel Mingoa was shot at close range outside a restaurant on Commonwealth Avenue.

Last February, Surigao City Prosecutor Manuel Navarro Tesiorna was shot outside his house. He survived the attack.

In May 2017, Caloocan City Prosecutor Diosdado Azarcon was shot thrice in the head outside his house on Capas Street in Barangay 63, Caloocan.

In July 2017, Rizal Assistant Prosecutor Maria S. Ronatay was ambushed by gunmen riding-in-tandem on a motorbike.

On Sept. 29, 2017, Reymund Luna was shot to death in Barangay Tongohin in Infanta, Quezon. /atm