Criminal raps filed vs cop, civilian over death of teen in Rizal

MANILA, Philippines — A police officer in Rizal and his civilian cohort, who were arrested and placed under police custody, are now facing criminal complaints for the death of a teenager during an “Oplan Sita” pursuit on August 20.

Rodriguez Police Chief Lt. Col. Ruben Piquero said suspects Cpl. Arnulfo Sabillo, 37, and Jeffrey Baguio, 27, are facing attempted homicide and homicide complaints before the prosecutors’ office.

“Ang chinarge sa kanila ni [John Ace] ay attempted homicide kasi buhay si [John Ace]. [Ang namatay na si John Francis], dahil siya ay minor – ang complainant ay tatay – ang kaso ng pulis, [maging] ang ng sibilyan na kasama niya, ay homicide,” Piquero told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.

(They were charged with attempted homicide because John Ace is alive. The police officer and the civilian were also charged with homicide following the death of John Francis. The complainant was the victim’s father.)

READ: 16-year-old killed in police operation in Rizal

Piquero said the two suspects are now in the custody of Rodriguez, Rizal Police Station.

The Rizal police provincial office on Friday confirmed the death of 16-year-old John Francis Ompad. Police said he died on August 20 after he was shot by Sabillo, whose actual target was the victim’s 19-year-old brother John Ace Ompad.

Piquero said the incident transpired after John Ace was flagged down by Sabillo, who was accompanied by Baguio, for driving a “suspicious-looking” vehicle.

John Ace, who was allegedly intoxicated at that time, purportedly refused to present documents to prove that he owned the motorcycle he was driving. Reports likewise indicated that John Ace allegedly drove away from Sabillo, leading to a chase.

Piquero said John Ace claimed that as he was approaching his house, he saw Baguio “pull something out” from his pocket, prompting the 19-year-old to throw his helmet at the suspects.

Sabillo allegedly fell but stood up and immediately shot at John Ace. But Sabillo missed, instead hitting John Francis, who had just come from inside the house and happened to come out during the shooting.

According to Piquero, Sabillo was not wearing his police uniform during the incident.

“Hindi siya naka uniporme, pero siya [ay] naka duty. Alert team siya at the same time, naka civilian siya na dapat ay naka uniform. Ang naging mali lang niya doon ay naka civilian siya. Kapag nag conduct kasi ng Oplan Sita, dapat ay naka uniform para doon pa lang makilala na pulis siya,” the Rodriguez Police chief said.

(He was not in uniform, but he was on duty. He’s part of the alert team at the same time; he was wearing civilian clothes, but he should be in uniform. The only thing he did wrong was that he was wearing civilian clothes. When conducting Oplan Sita, officers should be in uniform so that they can be recognized as police officers.)

Piquero said they have yet to determine the reason why Sabillo was with Baguio during the incident. He added that they are still investigating reports that Sabillo was intoxicated at the time of John Francis’ killing.

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