‘Clueless cops made me a fall guy’

Police yesterday filed murder charges against the suspect in the fatal shooting of Argao councilor Joaquin Banosong.

But the 32-year-old suspect Reynaldo Destacamento insisted on his innocence, saying the police made him a sacrificial lamb so they could pin someone down in the killing.

“Wa silay laing ika-present maong nangita nalang silag ilang ika-present (They just looked for someone to present), ” Destacamento said yesterday after he was charged before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors’ Office.

Destacamento said he is innocent of the crime, adding that he did not know the councilor at all.

Destacamento said he was just in his house in barangay San Isidro, Talisay City when the municipal councilor was killed.

He said his seven-year-old child could prove that he is innocent.

“Ang akong anak makamatuod gyud nga didto ra ko sa amo anang higayuna kay ako pa ganing gihungitan sa pagpakaon akong syite-anyos nga anak (My son can prove that I am innocent because I was feeding him at home during the incident),” he said.

Destacamento added that his neighbors could also help clear his name.

Destacamento also denied that he is a gun-for-hire. He said he is a cellphone and computer technician.

As to the claim by the police that his cellphone may contain photos of his possible targets, he challenged the police “Ipakita nila”.

80% SOLVED

Senior Insp. Allan Rosario, chief of Argao police, said the killing of Banosong was 80 percent solved.

Rosario reiterated that Destacamento is a gun-for-hire and his claim that he is fall guy is expected.

Rosario said their witness was at least one or two meters from Destacamento when the crime was committed.

Rosario said an investigation to identify the mastermind is in progress.

Rosario refused to give more details as to the possible motives for the killing.

Destacamento was brought back to the Argao police station after the filing of murder charges.

When he was presented before Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Ferdinand Collantes, Destacamento decided to undergo a preliminary investigation so he will have a chance to refute the allegations against him.

He was given seven days to file a counter-affidavit.

If the prosecutor will find probable cause against the suspect, charges will be elevated before the Regional Trial Court.

Otherwise, the complaint will be dismissed.

Destacamento was arrested by police in Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City last Thursday.

Destacamento was identified by witnesses as the same person who allegedly shot dead Banosong at the public market in Argao last Monday.