The suspected robber killed by five members of the Manila Police was a victim of summary execution, an eye witness said Monday.
“Ang usapan po ise-set up lang si Robin [Villarosa, the victim]. Wala po sinabing papatayin,” the witness said.
The witness, the one who jumped out of the tricycle carrying the bag of the robbery victim, was located and identified by the NBI’s Anti Organized Transnational Crimes Division (NBI-AOTCD) last July 18. AOTCD took custody of the witness.
The incident was captured by a security camera where Gulod Police Community Precinct (PCP) commander Senior Inspector Rommel Salazar, Police Officer 3 (PO3) Ferdinand Valera, PO1 Ronald Dipacina, PO1 Diomar Landoy, and PO1 Rhoel Landrito killed the victim while kneeling with both arms raised, indication of surrender.
The five police officers are already under restricted custody after they surrendered to authorities over the weekend.
The witness said the police wanted to capture Villarosa for robbing and stabbing a student from the University of Santo Tomas.
The witness said he was instructed by Salazar to persuade the victim to do another robbery in Manila.
The victim agreed but said he wanted to take drugs first. The witness said the police officers gave him the illegal drugs to entice the victim to join him.
“Pinapunta ako sa Gulod (Police Station); binigyan ako ng drugs at para maengganyo si Robin na sumama sa akin,” the witness said, adding that the police also gave him a 9mm gun and instructed him to fire it during the robbery.
The incident happened on the evening of July 14. The witness said there really was no robbery. He ran with the bag because the village councilor, the supposed robbery victim, gave it to him. He said the councilor was also part in the planning to set up the victim.
“Ang alam ko huhulihin lang si Robin. Set up lang talaga. Wala sa usapan na papatayin,” he said.
The police promised to give him P20,000 for his help but only gave him P2,000.
Vicente de Guzman, chief of staff of the NBI, said they will apply the witness to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Witness Protection Program (WPP).
They will also take the witness to the prosecutor who will determine if he will be included in the complaint or not.