Ronaldo Aquino —PHOTO FROM CALBAYOG CITY INFORMATION OFFICE FACEBOOK PAGE
MANILA, Philippines — Nine suspects linked to the murder of Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino are now in police custody after surrendering to authorities, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.
In a statement, PNP Chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos identified the suspects as ex-Lt. Col. Harry Sucayre, ex-Maj. Shyrille Tan, Capt. Dino Goles, Lt. Julio Armeza Jr., ex-Staff Sgt. Neil Cebu, ex-Staff Sgt. Edsel Omega, Staff Sgt. Randy Merelos, Cpl. Julius Garcia, and Pat. Niño Salem. Carlos said the police officers surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Detective Special Operations Unit (DSOU) on Feb. 15.
“The nine accused are now considered Persons Under Police Custody while awaiting further orders from the Court. The PNP commits its 100% cooperation in the prosecution of the case,” Carlos said.
The suspects, who were indicted on Jan. 20, were the subjects of arrest warrants issued on Feb. 14 by the Regional Trial Court Branch 32 of Calbayog City, Samar.
They are accused in four separate criminal cases of murder docketed under Criminal Case Nos. 9090, 9091, 9092 & 9093 with no bail recommended, and frustrated murder docketed under Criminal Case No. 9094 with a recommended bail of P200,000 each.
All suspects are now detained at the DSOU custodial facility in Camp Crame.
Tan, Sucayre, Omega, and Cebu were dismissed from the PNP on recommendation by the Internal Affairs Service and duly approved by Carlos in November 2021.
Meanwhile, the other accused PNP personnel remain in active service but are on Leave of Absence Without Pay status while being detained.
Aquino was ambushed while on his way to his son’s birthday party last March 8, after his vehicle was followed by a van that carried police officers from the local Philippine National Police (PNP) Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) and the Police Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU).
The incident prompted a Senate investigation into the case, during which a police officer revealed that they colluded with the slain mayor’s political rivals to kill Aquino’s close allies.
The witness also shut down claims linking Aquino to the drug trade, saying that it was merely concocted by some police officers and his rivals.
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