All 5 cops in Manila ‘rubout’ in custody

All of the five Manila policemen tagged in the alleged summary execution of a suspected robber on Tuesday had surrendered to their district command to face charges, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said on Saturday.

Roxas made the announcement as he assured the family of the slain Robin Villarosa that justice will be served in the case of the 24-year-old tricycle driver, who was shot dead on the night of July 14. The killing was caught on video on a street in Sampaloc.

Four of the five officers—Insp. Rommel Salazar, PO3 Ferdinand Valera, PO1 Ronald Dipacina and PO1 Diomar Landoy—presented themselves to their station commander Friday afternoon. The fifth, PO1 Rhoel Landrito, surrendered Saturday morning to the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters.

Assigned to the MPD-Gulod Police Community Precinct, the five were identified as the law enforcers who were seen in a closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage running after two men on a tricycle on Sociego Street, Barangay 546, Sampaloc, around 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday.

Villarosa was later seen being shot by one of the policemen, believed to be Salazar, after he got off from the tricycle, dropped to his knees and put his head down as he appeared to yield.

“I am pleased to report that after assuring the Villarosa family of justice for their son Robin, all five cops suspected of the alleged rubout are now in police custody,” Roxas said in a statement. “I thank members of the PNP (Philippine National Police) who did their best to resolve this case and to show to the public that the law applies to all. Their fellow police officers are not exempted from the law.”

“May this be a message that everyone is equal under the law, whether you are an ordinary individual, a politician or a policeman,” he added.

Villarosa’s companion remained unidentified and was last seen on the video running toward Salazar. The footage also showed a man in civilian clothes apparently placing an object next to Villarosa’s body.

The victim’s family has filed a murder complaint against the five officers, denying Villarosa’s involvement in criminal activities. Citing the video, they also accused the policemen of planting evidence against Villarosa.