Lawyer to file murder raps vs police in killing of aide

MANILA, Philippines — Election reform lawyer Glenn Chong said he would file murder charges against the policemen involved in an alleged shootout with his long-time security aide in Cainta, Rizal.

Chong’s aide, Richard Santillan, and a woman were killed in the alleged encounter with members of the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) and the police in Cainta

Police said that on Monday, Dec. 10, Santillan, the woman and two others were spotted onboard a Toyota Fortuner that did not have a validation sticker.

Lawmen flagged down the vehicle but Santillan allegedly tried to flee, which prompted a chase and a deadly firefight in Barangay San Andres at about 1 a.m.

Police said Santillan and the group were members of the “Highway Boys,” a crime syndicate engaged in robbery, arms dealing, and illegal drugs.

Chong vowed to bring the case to court, as he claimed that the firearms, a grenade and other evidence found inside the vehicle were planted by the police.

“Hahantong kami sa korte (We will bring the case to court). I am going to file murder charges against the members of the Regional Intelligence Unit of the Cainta police and the HPG,” he told dzMM on Thursday.

He said he already formed a team of lawyers to support the filing of the case.

“Sila lahat iyon. Wala po akong papatawarin dito (They all did it. I will not spare anyone),” the lawyer said.

According to Chong, investigators of the Commission on Human Rights have already issued a subpoena for the police to release reports related to the case.

He said he also spoke to Chief Supt. Edward Carranza, police regional director for Calabarzon, to ask for all reports concerning the incident, including autopsy, intelligence, and Scene of the Crime Operatives reports, and other pieces of evidence that the police had against his aide.

Chong said there was a “really, really big possibility” that he was the target of the operation.

Chong, who has filed his candidacy for senator in the 2019 midterm elections, had appeared in several investigations of the Senate and the House of Representatives about alleged election fraud in 2016.

He claimed that the Commission on Elections and the Venezuela-based Smartmatic Inc., which supplied the Vote Counting Machines for the 2016 polls, were his enemies. /cbb