QC Memorial Circle used as ‘staging area’ for prosecutor’s slay — NBI

NBI presents to the DOJ on March 25, 2019 the CCTV clip showing how the suspects in the ambush- slay of a prosecutor slay met at Quezon City Memorial Circle hours before the ambush. PHOTO by Tetch Torres-Tupas/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday presented before the Department of Justice (DOJ) the footage from a close circuit television (CCTV) that show the movements of police officers tagged in the ambush-slay of Quezon City deputy prosecutor Rogelio Velasco in May 2018.

During Monday’s preliminary investigation against suspects SPO2 Rodante Laimarmo, PO3 Arthur Lucy, and PO1 Jose Mercado, the NBI presented proof that the police officers were at the Quezon City Memorial Circle during the ambush of Velasco.

The NBI explained that aside from the three police officers,  six others were involved in the crime based on the footage. The other suspects are still on the run.

The footage showed that the suspects met at the Quezon Memorial Circle hours before Velasco was gunned down in Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City on May 11, 2018.

It also showed that the suspects put on hats and black jackets while the backdoor of the white action utility vehicle (AUV) was left open. The NBI said witnesses claimed that a man carrying a long firearm was at the vehicle’s backseat.

WATCH: NBI explaining part of a CCTV clip of the suspects taken before the ambush-slay of QC Prosecutor Rogelio Velasco in 2018. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/aF0nUhYNjk

— tetch torres-tupas (@T2TupasINQ) March 25, 2019

The CCTV footage also showed that the white AUV and a motorcycle tailed Velasco’ vehicle.

In its complaint, the NBI cited the testimony of witnesses as well as proof from the CCTV footage that the Quezon Memorial Circle was used as the staging area for the ambush-slay.

The suspects on board a white Toyota Innova, with license plate XNR-256, blocked Velasco’s vehicle and opened fire on the unsuspecting prosecutor.

Velasco’s children who were inside the vehicle with him survived the ambush.

The three police officers have denied knowledge of or participation in the attack. They told the panel of prosecutors headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong that they do not know each other; hence, they cannot possibly conspire to plan to kill Velasco.

READ: Police officers accused of killing QC prosecutor deny murder charge

The DOJ gave the police officers five days to submit their manifestation while the complainants were also given five days to respond. /ee