The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday downgraded from murder to homicide the charges against 19 policemen involved in the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa and another inmate inside their detention cell in Baybay, Leyte last November.
The 19 Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Regional Office 8 operatives led by Supt. Marvin Marcos are facing murder charges before the Baybay City, Leyte Regional Trial Court after the panel of prosecutors created by DOJ Department Order No. 890 found probable cause to indict the members of PNP last March 2.
A March 2 resolution of the DOJ noted that the death of Espinosa and Yap were attended by treachery and the respondents used stealth to carry out the raid and that they clearly outnumbered and out-armed the victims.
“The panel likewise determined that the respondents strategically positioned themselves to secure the ingress and egress of the jail facility. It was also determined that evident premeditation was also present since the attack was well-planned, with the execution of the killings under the deception of implementing a search warrant,” said part of the resolution signed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Lilian Doris Alejo, who headed the prosecution panel and approved by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Pedrito Rancis.
The accused filed a petition for review with the DOJ, which released a resolution last May 29 and ordered the Leyte prosecutor to amend the Information (charge sheet) in court.
“It is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court to recognize and give weight to the said resolution on the petition for review before the DOJ and after due hearing, grant leave for the public prosecution to amend and downgrade the Information for Murder to Homicide in these cases,” stated in four-page motion dated June 6, 2017 filed before the Baybay City Regional Trial Court Branch 14 and signed by Provincial Prosecutor Ma. Arlene Hunamayor-Cordovez.
Cordovez filed the motion upon orders from the DOJ.
A case for murder is filed if it was proven that it is attended by any of the qualifying aggravating circumstances under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code.
Marcos and 10 of his men- S/Insp. Deogracia Pedong Diaz III, C/Insp. Calixto Canillas Jr., Insp. Lucresito Candelosas, SPO2s Benjamin Dacallos and Antonio Docil, SPO1 1 Mark Christian Cadilo, PO3 Norman Abellanosa, PO2s John Ruel Doculan and Jaime Bacsal, and PO1 Jerlan Cabiyaan- were charged with two counts of murder for allegedly being involved in the killings of Espinosa and Yap.
Four other police officers were charged for the killing of Espinosa – Supt. Santi Noel Matira, C/Insp.Leo Daio Laraga, SPO4 Melvin Caboyit and PO3 Johnny Abuda Ibanez – while four others for the murder of Yap – S/Insp. Fritz Bioco Blanco, SPO4 4 Juanito Duarte, PO2 Lloyd Ortiguesa and PO1 Bernard Orpilla.
Homicide is a bailable offense.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the indictment only goes to show that the government will not tolerate any misdeeds of its officers.
Based on testimonial and forensic evidence, the NBI said the killing of Espinosa, who has earlier surrendered to the authorities after he and his son Kerwin were named by President Rodrigo Duterte as being involved in the illegal drugs trade, and Yap, were a result of rub-out and not a shootout as claimed by the policemen who conducted the raid.
During the Senate hearing by the committe on public order and dangerous drugs and the committee on justice and human rights, senators learned that the death of Espinosa and Yap was “premeditated and with abuse of authority” on the part of the police operatives.
Espinosa’s son, self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, claimed that Marcos, Laraga and Matira received payoffs from him.
The Senate committees headed by Senator Panfilo Lacson and Richard Gordon said Espinosa was killed to cover up the involvement of some of the police officers in the illegal drugs trade. (Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan/PNA)
photo credit: Gmanews.tv
