Sultan Kudarat cops face murder raps for death of three teens
Sultan Kudarat. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Murder and a string of criminal complaints have been filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against eight police officers in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat for the death of three teenage boys last December.
Aside from murder, the police officers are facing complaints for the planting of evidence, falsification of documents, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and irregularity in the performance of duty.
Named in the complaint are Lambayong police chief Police Major (PMAJ) Jenahmeel Tonaco, Police Senior Master Sergeant (PSMS) Syril Mahaddi, Police Corporal (PCpl) Elpedio Garlit, PCpl Joffrey Apalla , patrolmen Nicol Dion Toreja, Basser Mako, Mario Rombaoa Jr., and Roldan Claveria. They are all assigned at the Lambayong Municipal Police Station.
The complaint was filed before the DOJ’s National Prosecution Service (NPS) by the parents of the three victims, identified as Samanoden Mustapha, Horton Ansa, Jr., and Arshad Tingao, through the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Lawyer Ronald Hallid Torres, who is representing the victims’ parents, told reporters that the claims of the policemen the victims died in a shootout were not true.
“The PNP alleges that there was a shootout, but based on the documents that we have, they were shot,” Torres said.
Based on reports, the three teenagers aboard a motorcycle ignored a police checkpoint in Barangay Didtaras, Lambayong, on December 1, prompting the police officers to chase them.
The policemen claimed that a shootout ensued after the victims fired at them.
The victims were brought to a nearby hospital and declared dead upon arrival.
The police also claimed that they found a sachet of shabu in the pants of one of the teenagers.
But Torres said post-mortem report showed that the victims were shot at close range.
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