4 of 5 cops sued for Manila ‘rubout’ surrender

Four of the five policemen allegedly involved in the killing of a robbery suspect on the night of July 14 surrendered to the Manila Police District (MPD) Friday afternoon.

Insp. Rommel Salazar, PO3 Ferdinand Valera, PO1 Ronald Dipacina and PO1 Diomar Landoy gave themselves up to their station commander, Supt. Mannan Muarip, around 4:55 p.m. yesterday.

A fifth suspect, PO1 Rhoel Landrito, who is reportedly in Laguna province, was expected to surrender late yesterday or early today.

A murder complaint has been filed against them by the family of Robin Villarosa, a 24-year-old tricycle driver, who was shot dead allegedly by one of the policemen at pointblank range even as CCTV cameras showed that he had already raised his hands and was on his knees.

According to Muarip, the suspects told him that they did not immediately show up at MPD headquarters because they first spent time with their loved ones to de-stress.

MPD director Senior Supt. Rolando Nana said the policemen, assigned at the Gulod Police Community Precinct, are now in restrictive custody at the District Headquarters Support Unit (DHSU), meaning they are not allowed to go outside the police facility.

Nana said that once the court issues an arrest warrant, they will serve it to the policemen so they can face the charges filed against them.