Cop tagged in killing of Bulacan official flees

MANILA, Philippines – Staff Sgt. Ulysses Pascual,  who was linked to the killing of a Bulacan provincial board member, left restrictive custody in Camp Crame in Quezon City, the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed on Tuesday.

“He was made to report to the CIDG headquarters, disarmed and put under restrictive custody. However, he asked the duty custodian for permission to leave to head home briefly and return. But, he never returned.” PNP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said in Filipino.

“Apart from AWOL cases, other cases will be filed against him, particularly for violating the order putting him under restrictive custody and insubordination to the order that he cannot leave pending investigation,” added Fajardo. “Flight is a sign of guilt. If he’s watching right now, it would be in his best interest to cooperate with the investigation because he was really positively identified by the two vital witnesses as the one using the Adventure,” Fajardo stressed.

She also said the on-duty police officer who allowed Pascual to leave custody was relieved from their post under investigation, adding that the three other accused were still at large: Pascual’s cousin Cesar Gallardo Jr. and two individuals by aliases “Jeff” and “Lupin.”

The four suspects were charged on Monday for the murder of Bulacan’s Association of Barangay Captains president Ramil Capistrano, 56, and his driver Shedrick Suarez, 27.

Capistrano and Suarez were killed in San Rafael on October 3.  Both succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.