QCPD files criminal raps vs 7 suspects in murder of NCMH chief

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has filed criminal complaints against seven suspects in the July 27 killing of National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) chief Roland Luyun Cortez and his driver Ernesto Ponce dela Cruz.

“As of yesterday, na-i-file na po natin ang kaso through online against seven suspects. So ito pong thorough investigation na ginawa po ng QCPD under supervision of NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office)… Nakita po natin na talagang may basehan ang kaso na isinampa natin dito against the suspects,” QCPD chief Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo said Tuesday, during a press briefing at Camp Karingal to discuss updates on the case.

(As of yesterday, we filed a case online against seven suspects. So this thorough investigation conducted by QCPD was under the supervision of NCRPO… We saw that there is really a basis in the case that we filed against the suspects.)

NCRPO chief Major Gen. Debold Sinas said they have already arrested Albert Eugenio, one of the suspects who has a standing arrest warrant for murder.

Eugenio also helped police probers in identifying the getaway car, Sinas said.

“Ang pinaka nahuli dito ay si Albert Eugenio, ‘yung number 7 most wanted ng Eastern Police District, by virtue of warrant for murder. Si Eugenio ang nagturo po nung sasakyan na ginamit na getaway nung shooting incident,” Sinas said during the same press conference.

(Albert Eugenio, number 7 most wanted in EPD, was arrested by virtue of warrant for murder. He also pointed to the getaway vehicle used during the shooting incident.)

Police said Eugenio was identified by witnesses as one of the suspects who shot Cortez and his driver along Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City.

QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) chief Major Elmer Monsalve said the motive behind the killing might be “work-related” since Cortez uncover anomalies within their agency.

“Ang lumalabas na motibo dito ay ‘yung trabaho ni Roland Cortez to fight corruption sa National Center for Mental Health. ‘Yung kanyang reform na talagang in-implement that is for NCMH… may na-expose na mga anomaly na na-involve mga high-ranking official,” Monsalve said.

(The emerging motive here is the work of Roland Cortez to fight corruption in NCMH. The reforms he implemented in NCMH… was able to expose anomalies involving high-ranking officials.)

Cortez and his driver were shot dead inside their vehicle while traversing Tandang Sora Avenue last month. The motorcycle-riding assailants fled towards Commonwealth Avenue immediately after shooting the victims.

KGA