House guard who killed pals charged

Prosecutors have recommended no bail for a security officer at the House of Representatives held for allegedly shooting to death his own superior and a colleague during a heated argument last Friday.

The suspect, Renato de la Cruz, 52, faces two counts of murder before the Quezon City regional trial court for allegedly killing Rosello Ilagan, 60, executive director of the Legislative Security Bureau, and Gerald Rallos, 34, administrative officer.

Inquest Division Chief Elmo Alameda approved the recommendation made by prosecutors not to allow the suspect to post bail for his temporary liberty. Under court rules, bail is generally not available to a murder suspect, particularly when evidence is strong.

Investigators said the shooting happened at around 6 p.m. inside the office of the security bureau of the House of Representatives. The suspect, who was allegedly drunk, confronted Rallos for posting him on duty on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

The officer’s explanation that there was nothing personal about his assignment did not pacify the man, who drew a 9 mm pistol. He fired a shot into the ceiling to order other employees inside the office to get out. Meanwhile, Ilagan, who heard the commotion, went in to intervene. That was the last time Rallos and Ilagan were seen alive.

The shooting prompted legislators to call for tighter security controls at the House of Representatives. Witnesses said they heard successive gunshots rung out of their office. But out of fear, nobody dared to get in, until De la Cruz himself went out calmly. At this point, other security officers arrived and arrested the suspect, who is now detained at the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Central Police District.

Investigators later found the murder weapon and its holster on top of one of the tables inside the office. "I think you should talk to my lawyer, not to me," the suspect told reporters at the CPD.

His wife sat beside him, crying. "Please don’t disturb us, my wife, you see, has a heart ailment. Spare her please." He had a pained smile on his face. – Romel Bagares