Homicide raps filed vs cops in death of Calbayog mayor, others; mayor’s son charged for murder of cops

Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino —PHOTO FROM CALBAYOG CITY INFORMATION OFFICE FACEBOOK PAGE

MANILA, Philippines — Complaints for homicide and frustrated homicide were filed last April against the policemen who figured in a shootout with the police bodyguard of Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, who was killed during the incident along with five others last March.

Maj. Gen. Alfred Corpuz, Director for Operations at the Philippine National Police (PNP), said a separate case for murder was filed against Ronald Mark Aquino, son of the mayor, and others for firing back against the cops.

“Based on the report submitted by Police Regional Office 8, cases of homicide, three counts, and frustrated homicide were already referred before the City Prosecutor’s Office of Calbayog City last April 16, 2021, against Police Lt. Col. (Harry) Sucayre, Police Maj. (Cyril) Tan, and Police Lt. (Julius) Armesa for the death of Mayor Aquino and his companions,” Corpuz told the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs that was holding a hearing on the incident on Wednesday.

“Likewise, two counts of murder among others were referred to Calbayog City Prosecutor’s Office against Ronald Mark Aquino, Police Cpl. Rosales, and several John Does for the death of Police Lt. (Joselito) Tabada and Police Staff Sgt. (Romeo) Laoyon,” Corpuz added.

During the hearing, the younger Aquino denied that he was involved in the death of said police officers.

Initial reports claimed that Aquino was on the way to the birthday celebration of his son Mark at their family-owned resort after playing tennis on March 8, when his sports utility vehicle (SUV) was tailed by a van, that later turned out to be carrying agents of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) and the Police Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU).

Aquino’s death was initially reported to be caused by an ambush but a succeeding police narrative showed he was killed following a gunfight with operatives belonging to the IMEG and the Samar PDEU who were onboard unmarked vehicles.

Aside from Aquino, those killed during the incident were his police escort and driver, a civilian caught in the crossfire, and two other police officers from the camp that clashed with the mayor’s group.

In a statement last March, the PNP claimed that Aquino’s group “was alleged to have initiated the shootout” when his camp fired at the vehicles carrying the policemen. The Police Regional Office in Eastern Visayas earlier said Aquino’s party was thinking that the vehicles behind them were tailing them.

Mayor not the subject of operation

The PNP said the IMEG and PDEU teams both denied that the mayor was the subject of their operations.

Sucayre, Tan, and Armesa were among the police officers reportedly onboard the white Toyota Hilux that figured in the shootout with the mayor along Laboyao Bridge in Barangay Lonoy, Calbayog City.

Tabada and Laoyon, meanwhile, were also killed inside the PDEU vehicle during the incident.

Police Cpl. Edcil Omega, who was also onboard the Toyota Hilux, claimed that he saw the younger Aquino and a certain Pcpl Rosales firing at Tabada and Laoyon.

“Nung humupa na ‘yung putok, mga ilang minuto ‘yung lumipas. Nakarinig ulit ako ng putok. Doon ako sumilip pataas ulit. Doon ko nakita ang tatlong taong armado,” Omega told the Senate committee.

(When the firing stopped, a few minutes passed. Then I heard gunshots again. I looked and saw three armed men.)

“Na-identify ko na ‘yung isa ay si Mark Aquino. ‘Yung isang pulis ay si Cpl. Rosales,” he added.

(I identified one of them as Mark Aquino and the other policeman as Cpl. Rosales.)

Son belies firing at cops

Aquino, however, claimed it was impossible for him to have been present during the shootout since the resort where he was having his birthday celebration is 15 minutes away from the crime scene in Laboyao Bridge.

“Yung sinasabi nila (police) sa (graphic) video, na ‘yung sasakyan na nasa presentation ay galing sa south, ako po galing north po ako. Kaya ‘yung direction ng sasakyan ng father ko is going north. Kasi papunta siya sa birthday ko,” he narrated.

(The police showed in the video that the vehicle was going south but I was coming from the north. That’s why the direction of my father is going north because he was going to my birthday.)

He said that when he knew that his father was killed, he immediately went to the crime scene together with his uncle and aunt.

“Pagdating namin doon, unang tiningnan ko ‘yung sasakyan ng father ko. Naabutan ko na walang buhay na siya at tadtad ng bala. At wala akong ibang ginawa kundi yakapin ang tatay ko,” he added.

(When we arrived there, I first saw the vehicle of my father. I saw that he was lifeless and suffered several gunshots. I did not do anything but to embrace my father.)

The National Bureau of Investigation has launched a separate investigation on the incident upon the order of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra. — Faith Yuen Wei Ragasa, Inquirer trainee

EDV