Kin of 13 men denounce ‘premeditated killing’

MANILA, Philippines - Last Sunday’s encounter in Quezon was no shootout but a rubout and “premeditated killing,”relatives of the 13 slain men said yesterday.

They also denied that the 13 men were engaged in criminal activities, as reported by the police and military.

Several of the relatives of the 13 fatalities faced the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to give their sworn statements as the official probe kicked off yesterday.

Christinne Consemino, daughter of slain police Superintendent Alfredo Consemino, said the 13 were “marked targets of a premeditated killing.”

“There was no shootout. There is no reason why the victims would not undergo a checkpoint procedure. They have no contraband on board. They have no reason why they would not undergo a checkpoint. On board the vehicles are respected people and not involved in criminal activities,” Christinne told a press conference at the NBI yesterday.

She stressed the circumstances indicate the 13 were all victims of a rubout.

“The vehicles’ windows are all closed and peppered with bullets. This is a clear sign that no shootout happened. This is a summary execution,” Christinne said.

Christinne led the families and relatives of the victims in decrying police statements that the 13 were members of a gun-for-hire syndicate or belonging to a group engaging in illegal gambling activities.

“We would like to announce to the Filipino people that the victims in Atimonan, Quezon are innocent people. They were tagged by the police and the media as criminals and alleged members of a criminal gang. These allegations are just an imagination in order to divert the attention of the people to what really happened,” Christinne said.

Christinne read a prepared statement pointing out that not anyone among the 13 victims killed had a criminal record.

She said her father is a respected police officer with no record of any involvement in any criminal activity.

Christinne also defended Vic Siman, who was tagged by the police as a jueteng lord and engaged in other illegal activities.

“Vic Siman is not a gun-for-hire. He is not a member of any criminal syndicate. He is a legitimate businessman,” she stressed.

“We are pleading and appealing to the media to report a balanced report in order to give justice to the summary execution of Vic Siman and his companions, especially my daddy. We are pleading and appealing to any witness who saw what really happened to give a statement in order to give justice to the victims,” she said.

Christinne said the families and relatives of the 13 victims are planning to ask the NBI to conduct a re-autopsy of the bodies to assure there will be no whitewash.

“We are pleading to President Aquino and Justice Secretary (Leila) de Lima and the NBI,” said Christinne.

Christinne said her father was on his way to Bicol to oversee the posting of guards in the area for his security agency business.

She said her father was met by Ronnie Habitan, owner of a security agency, where her dad and Vic Siman are business partners.

They were set to meet and discuss the operations of the security agency, she said,

Christinne also said it is possible the group was carrying money since they were planning to finance the posting of some 1,000 security guards in Ayala Greenfields.

The company needed a bond of P5 million for the posting, so it is possible they were carrying money, she said.

“I am calling on Mr. Ronnie Habitan to give a statement, acknowledge you invited my dad and the group of Vic Siman to your house,” Christinne appealed.

Ordinary and simple man

Neighbors and friends also expressed their dismay over the death of Consemino.

They all denied Consemino was involved in any criminal activity, adding he has a good record in the police service for years.

“We called him ‘Boy’ when his family was still here in the Purok 3 (in Camp Vicente Lim) before they transferred to San Pablo City,” said Merly, one of the neighbors.

Consemino was described by his friends as an ordinary, simple and straight man.

“He was dedicated to his job as a police officer and was an honor student during his time in Camp Vicente Lim high school and no records from any illegal activities,” said a friend, a former soldier who refused to be named.

Consemino, a native of Calamba City, lived inside the compound of the Camp Vicente Lim police headquarters for years before he left his hometown in Purok 3.

Consemino joined the Philippine National Police Academy in 1986 and received several accomplishments, medals and awards, including the junior police of the year.

Consemino served as chief of police in Alaminos, San Pablo City, and was assigned in Calabarzon Region 4A before he was detailed at the Mimaropa Region 4B.

Officials said Consemino is a business partner of Siman in a security guard business.

A police official said Siman and Consemino had known each other when the latter was chief of police in Alaminos, Laguna.

“Every time Siman has a concern or problem from his business, Consemino (would) help him,” a police official said.

In the same news conference at the NBI, Christopher Siman denied allegations against his brother being involved in illegal activities.

“The allegations are not true. Up to now, my family and relatives are affected. My brother’s concern is always about our family and our barangay. I am asking our beloved President and Justice Secretary De Lima to give us justice,” Christopher said.

“We must stop the abuses made by the military and the police. I hope we will be given justice. We are denying they are involved as guns-for-hire and kidnap-for-ransom. They have no tarnish in their records. Col. Consemino is like a father to my brother. He is the one who is giving advise in their business,” he said.

Christopher also denied that Vic Siman was involved in jueteng.

“We have no idea (who are the perpetrators or what the motive was),” he said.

Rodita Quiohilag Sonsing, sister of Paul Quiohilag, one of the 13 killed in the supposed shootout, said her brother was a broker of several businesses, including being a manager of different real estate developers and insurance corporations.

She said her brother’s plan that day was to offer proposals to several people during their trip.

What shootout?

The family of environmentalist and former Sariaya municipal administrator Tirso Lontok Jr. questioned the claims of the police that it was a legitimate police operation.

In a statement, they belied the claims of the PNP that the victims ignored a police checkpoint and opened fire at the policemen, triggering the shootout.

“The positioning of checkpoint in an isolated location was suspicious; the use of superior firepower was categorically exaggerated; and the manner by which the 13 victims were killed appeared to be planned and pre-meditated, and the way they were shot ‘all in the head’ seemed to be intended to silence them. As the saying goes, ‘Dead men tell no tale(s),” the Lontoks said.They lambasted “the ruthlessness

of the police and military operation in Atimonan” and said accusations that Lontok might have been involved in illegal activities aggravated their “inconsolable sorrow” over his death.–  Ed Amoroso