The case may be closed as far as investigators are concerned but to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, justice can only be considered served with the filing in court of charges against those accused of killing one of her close-in security aides.
Following the arrest of 10 members of an FX and AUV taxi robbery gang earlier this month, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of a case of illegal possession of firearms and an explosive against six members and drug charges against three others.
These are on top of the case the group faces in connection with the killing of Alister Quintos, De Lima’s security aide on May 10.
“The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been able to get significant leads [in Quintos’ case] but it was not able to capture the suspects immediately and then there was this breakthrough when the Philippine National Police arrested them in connection with other cases,” she said.
She added that from the evidence gathered by the NBI, the group was behind the killing of her security aide.
The body of Quintos was found on May 11 in San Ildefonso town in Bulacan province. He had been shot once in the chest. The day before, some of his coworkers had dropped him off on Marcos Highway where he got into a “colorum” FX taxi on his way home to Antipolo City.
The NBI has since been trying to find his killers. On Oct. 6, the police chanced upon several members of the FX and AUV taxi robbery gang at a checkpoint in Parañaque City.
A witness later tagged some members of the group as among the men he saw in the FX taxi the victim got into. This was confirmed by a member of the group who has offered to turn state witness.
De Lima said the gang had victimized a lot of people and except for Quintos, they usually did not kill their victims.
“It was only [Quintos] who was killed and the theory of the NBI was that he may have fought them,” she added.
Asked whether the arrest of the gang somehow meant justice has been served, De Lima said: “If we’re talking about … the identification of the suspects, then we can say that indeed the case is solved.”
She made it clear, however, that from her “perspective,” justice is only served when formal charges are filed in court.
According to the Oct. 9 DOJ inquest resolution released to the media only yesterday, the gang members underwent inquest proceedings last week, and have been recommended to undergo preliminary investigation for charges of robbery and selling stolen goods.
The 10 gang members have been identified as Ludy Dagupioso, Red Marlon Guarino, Ritchie Cahinta, Rosendo Chavez, Almario Rentillosa, Arvin Manal, Princess Losa, Jonalyn Sarmiento, Janice Brillatica and Ronelyn Consorte.