Roxas relieves Calabarzon police chief over slay case of 2 Ozamis gang leaders

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II on Wednesday relieved Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, Calabarzon regional director, over the slay case of the two leaders of the Ozamiz crime group

“[Ang] RSOG [Regional Special Operations Group]  ay directly nag-rereport sa kanya. Dapat alam niya nangyayari dito (the RSOG reports directly to him so he is responsible for the action of the group),” he said.

Replacing him as Calabarzon police officer-in-charge is Senior Superintendent Jesus Gatchalian, former provincial director of Batangas and Mindoro Oriental.

Ozamiz gang leaders Ricky Cadavero a.k.a “Kambal” and Wilfredo Panogalinga a.k.a “Kulot” were killed in San Pedro, Laguna while they were being transported back to camp after attending inquest proceedings in Cavite.

Police alleged that the attack on the convoy carrying the fugitives was an attempt by the Ozamis gang members to “rescue” Cadavero and Panogalinga.

Along with RSOG chief, Superintendent Danilo Mendoza, also relived earlier were:

PSI Manuel Magat

PSI Fernando Cardon

PI Efren Oco

SPO1 Joseph Ortega

SPO1 Jayson Semacas

PO3 Sherwin Bulan

PO3 Ramil Gonzales

PO3 Marvin Mejia

PO3 Eduardo Cruz

PO2 Conrado Bautista

PO2 Exiel Reyes

PO2 Kristofferson Reyes

PO1 Ryan Rey Gado

Estipona is the second Calabarzon police official relieved this year following the axing of Chief Superintendent James Melad last January over the Atimonan shooting incident in Quezon Province.

Meanwhile, Roxas named police director Catalino Cuy—currently PNP director for plans and former police chief of Davao and head of the Special Action Force—to head the investigation and fact finding team that will take over the task from the Internal Affairs Service and the Crime Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

He said there are questions that have not been answered up to this moment, of which includes:

*why were Cadavero and Panogalinga transferred to an “ordinary” vehicle and taken to another area?

* why only six police officers were assigned to guard “high-risk” criminals?

* why were they handcuffed in front and not at the back.

Roxas said intelligence reports showed that a big criminal syndicate group which wanted to “silence” Cadavero and Panogalinga was behind this attack.

Initial reports reaching him “weren’t acceptable,” Roxas said.

Roxas also said he has coordinated with Dasmariñas City mayor Jenny Barzaga and Congressman Elpidio Barzaga to secure the five other suspects identified with the Cadavero group who are presently detained at their provincial city jail.

Roxas also said he has coordinated with Dasmariñas City Mayor Jenny Barzaga and Rep. Elpidio Barzaga to secure the five other suspects identified with the Cadavero group who are currently detained at their provincial city jail.

He said he will seek the transfer of the five to Camp Crame.

“Makakaasa ang publiko na mananagot ang dapat managot at wala kaming sasantuhin dito,” Roxas said.