Criminal raps filed vs Solima couple shooting

CEBU, Philippines — Three days after the attack on lawyer Salvador Solima and his wife, criminal complaints against the alleged perpetrators were lodged before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.

Ricarte Del Corro, alias Blupaks, 32, of Barangay Labangon, Cebu City, brothers Alberto Baluyos, 29, and Alvin Baluyos, 23, of V Rama, Cebu City, and an unidentified person are facing murder and frustrated murder complaints for their alleged involvement in the Solima’s death.

Solima succumbed to two gunshot wounds to the head.

His wife, Verose, is now recovering after suffering from a gunshot wound in the head.

The unidentified person, according to the homicide police, was one of the gunmen aside from Del Corro.

In an inquest proceeding before state prosecutor Naruzen Delfin-Lorete, the three respondents chose not to answer the allegations filed against them.

They instead manifested to face the charges in court.

Respondents earlier denied the allegations filed against them.

The homicide police said the respondents were identified by the witnesses.

Del Corro was allegedly identified as the gunman while the Baluyos brothers served as the lookouts.

Aside from the murder and frustrated murder, Del Corro is facing a case for illegal selling and possession of dangerous drugs.

On Tuesday, Del Corro was arrested through a buy-bust operation at Tres de Abril, Labangon, Cebu City.

Later, he was found out that he was one of the perpetrators in the killing of Solima, based on the account of the witness.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has urged lawyers not to be complacent in their own security even at home, following the recent slay of Solima inside his residence in Barangay Guadalupe last Monday.

Senior Superintendent Royina Garma, newly-installed director of CCPO, said lawyers should inform the police beforehand by filing a report in order for police to give guidance on how they can improve their security, even at home.

“They should inform us and make arrangements and follow kung ano guidance to ensure the security sa kanila. They have to be conscious sa security nila because sa panahon ngayon, we don’t even know who are our enemies,” she said.

Police investigators noted that part of the drawbacks in the ongoing investigation is the lack of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at the crime scene.

Solima is a well-known criminal lawyer handling cases such as of the common-law wife of slain former Ermita barangay captain Felicisimo “Imok” Rupinta and some other drug cases.

CCTV would have helped in identifying the fourth suspect, who might be the second gunman that accompanied Del Corro.

“You cannot rely on your safety and security sa police. We can be visible sa streets but that is general lang. If you are dealing with clients look out for your own security,” she said.

Garma said there are not enough police to secure the population in Metro Cebu, as CCPO only have at least a thousand police personnel.

“When we talk of safety we cannot guard yung bahay niyo 1 is to1.  When you are inside the house, lookout niyo yung safety niyo. So, kung bahay mo yan, make sure na safe kayo inside the house, be cautious dapat security conscious ka,” she said.

In a related development, CCPO Investigation and Detective Management Branch Chief Ryan Devaras said that there are still efforts to pursue the fourth suspect.

He believes that the fourth suspect is still in Cebu. — GAN (FREEMAN)