Cordillera, Abra police top execs face murder raps over Pilar shooting
By Nidz Godino
"Conspiracy kasi is merong unity of acts," Atty. Joseph Martinez of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-National Capital Region has filed complaints for murder before the Department of Justice against top police officials in the Cordillera Autonomous Region and Abra in connection with shooting incident that led to the killing of a bodyguard of Pilar Vice Mayor Jaja Josefina Somera Disono.
NBI has recommended for prosecution Police Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee, the police regional director in CAR; and Police Colonel Maly Cula, acting police provincial director in Abra.
Also subject of murder complaint are Police Lt. Col. Melencio Mina, chief of the provincial intelligence unit and provincial drug enforcement unit; Police Capt. Ronaldo Eslabra, chief of Pilar police; Comelec Officer 2 Rodrigo Base; and members of the Pilar police and the regional mobile force battalion.
" Based on the evidence we have gathered, they set up PNP-Comelec checkpoint which they tried to pass off as legitimate but evidence we got indicated otherwise," he stressed.
Lee said conspiracy angle was only allegation by NBI.
Police have alleged that Disono's guards shot it out with policemen after their convoy reportedly ignored Comelec checkpoint in March.
One of the vice mayor's guards Sandy Bermudo was killed in the alleged shootout.
The NBI findings indicated that there was no shootout.
The complainants believe that police officials in CAR and Abra conspired against them in connection with Eleksyon 2022.
"Gusto lang po namin na lumabas yung katotohanan at mabigyang hustisya po ang ating kasamahan na si Sandy Boy Bermudo po," Disono said.
The police reportedly has yet to give NBI access to the results of the paraffin test of policemen and ballistic test of surrendered weapons.
PNP in early April filed complaints against Disono, Pilar Mayor Maro Somera, and their personnel over fatal standoff in March 29.
In a statement, the PNP said Somera and Disono were facing complaint for violation of Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 as amended by the Expanded Trafficking in Persons Act.
A complaint for serious disobedience to an agent of a person in authority was also filed against Pilar government personnel Robert Boreta Toreno, Emmanuel Nicanor Valera, and Disono's househelper Jericho Toreno Bufil.
Bufil was also charged with attempted murder.
PNP chief Police General Dionardo Carlos said there are evidence and testimonies to support these complaints.
"The cases filed are the product of evidence and testimonies that our police investigators were able to gather…those involved individuals will be made to submit themselves to the judicial proceeding," Carlos said.
On March 29, a security personnel of Disono was killed in a shooting incident which local official claimed as an ambush and the police described as an armed encounter.
Police said a standoff occurred at the house of Disono where armed men sought refuge after they allegedly ran through a police checkpoint wounding two policemen and shooting at a police patrol car.
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