Charges filed over killing of Baringui-An couple: 3 more cops yield

CEBU, Philippines —  Charges for robbery with double homicide have been filed against three policemen and a former cop in line with the fatal shooting of the Baringui-an couple in San Fernando, Cebu on February 13, 2022.

The Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 identified the four as Staff Sergeants Rene Abella Catamora of the Consolacion Police, Junrey Ypil of the Danao City Police, Junrey Batobalonos of the Lapu-Lapu City Police; and dismissed cop Esmeraldo Quillosa.

Colonel Josefino Ligan, chief of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management group, said the names of the cops surfaced when Catamora surrendered to PRO-7 on February 18 and brought with him the blue Nissan Navarra that they used as getaway vehicle.

The car has two bullet holes from shots from the victims’ son who retaliated during the incident. Catamora also said one of the bullets hit him on his right wrist.

The Baringui-an couple, councilwoman Maria Louela and husband Pedro, were killed on the spot outside their house where the shooting took place in Sitio Tapok-Tapok, Barangay Panadtaran.

Previously, San Fernando Chief Efren Diaz said among the pieces of evidence gathered was a CCTV footage that showed the blue Navarra getaway vehicle, as well as the unidentified assailants.

Confession

Ligan said Catamora has executed an extra-judicial confession, which says he is guilty of the crime. He also implicated another policeman, Master Sergeant Alvin Enad, a desk officer of the Ronda Police. Enad has been placed under restriction pending investigation into his alleged involvement.

After Catamora surrendered, Ypil turned himself over to the intelligence unit of the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO). He also executed an extra-judicial confession.

Batobalonos surrendered to his superior at the CIU at the Lapu-Lapu City Police on February 20 while Quillosa surrendered to the San Fernando Police station.

Ligan said both Batobalonos and Quillosa have expressed their intent to also execute an extra-judicial confession.

Motive

PRO-7 Director, Brigadier Gen. Eduardo Roque Vega, said robbery was the motive of the incident but investigation into the killing is not over.

“Meron pa rin tayong in-depth investigation if there are other possible personalities involved in the incident. What I mean is, the one who might order the killing,” he said.

Ligan said the extra-judicial confessions also showed that the group received a call to rob the couple but the caller was not identified.

“Like we said, laliman natin yung imbestigasyon,” he said.

Investigation of the San Fernando Police showed that a ‘negotiation’ of sorts transpired between the victims and the suspects, as claimed by witnesses. The suspects allegedly demanded money and shot the couple after receiving the amount.

Ligan said that as indicated in the extra-judicial confessions, killing was not part of the plan until Pedro reportedly tried to take the suspects’ gun away.

“Kaya daw nila nabaril is because nagpumilit umagaw yung husband; inagaw yung baril nila (suspects),” he said.

Vega said they are not discounting the possibility that the crime is election-related, considering that Maria Louela was a sitting barangay councilwoman and was running for town councilor in the May polls.

Background

Police Colonel Glenn Mayam, officer in charge of the Regional Intelligence Division, said the suspects met each other when they were assigned at the same police station. Their friendship continued even after they were reassigned to other areas.

“After a few months, na buwag-buwag sila, pero yung camaraderie andun parin,” he said.

According to Ligan, even before the four of them surrendered to authorities, the investigators already had an idea of their involvement when the Regional Director Vega ordered a follow-up investigation.

San Fernando

Despite what happened, Vega said they cannot recommend just yet that San Fernando be placed in the election watch-list.

More policemen, however, have been deployed to the town – at least 12 from the Provincial Mobile Force Company, said Col. Engelbert Soriano, chief of the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO).

He said the cops have patrol cars that allow them to patrol the town regularly.

“Ang purpose nito ay just to assure the people of San Fernando na safe and secured sila despite the incident,” Soriano said.

Security personnel have also been assigned to incumbent officials of the town.

At the Provincial Capitol, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia commended the "quick and decisive action on the violent incident that happened in San Fernando."

“We understand that the investigation continues and I have full trust and confidence in PNP,” she said.

PNP image

Meanwhile, Vega said the involvement of the cops should not be taken against the PNP as a whole because the suspects “acted on their own.”

“These police officers constitute only a small percentage of the organization and gaya ng sinabi ng ating chief PNP, we will continue cleansing our ranks of misfits and scalawags in our organization. Makaasa kayo na ang nagseserbisyo ay yung mga tapat. Konti lang yung mga loko-loko sa police… kung meron man, bilang ang mga araw nila sa kanilang serbisyo,” Vega said.

The suspects are detained at PRO-7. Aside from the criminal charges, they will also face administration charges, which can lead to their dismissal from the police service.- JMO (FREEMAN)