Matibag's ‘Bodyguard’ questioned

A bodyguard of former Commission on Elections (Comelec) director Angelina Matibag was picked up for questioning by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation the other night in connection with the murder of Comelec information chief Velma Cinco.

Thirty-two-year-old Laverne Manzano, of 832 J. Rizal St., Makati City, was nabbed by agents of the NBI’s National Capital Region at about 9 p.m. at the Comelec building in Intramuros, Manila.

According to the NBI, Manzano, who is employed as a clerk at the Comelec’s Education and Information Department, was allegedly asked by Matibag to act as her personal "back-up" bodyguard.

Seized from Manzano was a Ruger 9 mm pistol.

According to Manzano, he bought the gun at the Twin Pines gun store’s Makati Cinema Square branch last year and it was legally licensed. But according to an NBI source, Manzano’s gun license and permit to carry firearm outside of residence (PTCFOR), which he presented, both appear to be either fakes or tampered.

"We’ve checked with the Firearms and Explosives Division of the PNP at Camp Crame and we found out that no (papers) were issued to him," said an investigator.

In a separate interview, Matibag denied any involvement in Cinco’s killing. "That would be stupid of me (to kill her). I know I will be the one to be blamed," she said.

Matibag accused Comelec Chairman Alfredo Benipayo of allegedly "conditioning the mind of the public so that I will be blamed" for Cinco’s killing.

Matibag also denied reports that she asked Manzano to serve as her personal bodyguard or driver.

NBI investigators said Manzano would be subjected to a paraffin test to determine if he had recently fired a gun. His gun will also be subjected to a ballistic test to cross-match it with the four spent 9mm shells recovered by police at the crime scene.

Manzano, who has been working at the Comelec since 1997, said he is willing to cooperate with the investigation but refused to answer questions from reporters regarding his alleged involvement with Cinco’s murder.

NBI earlier said that it had started checking the guns issued to bodyguards of Comelec officials in relation with the murder of Cinco last Tuesday in Sta. Ana, Manila.

Cinco was being driven by her son Carlo from their house to her work at abut 8 a.m. aboard her red Kia car with plate number TDR-779 when their way was blocked by the suspects aboard a motorcycle.

The suspects, whose faces were hidden by towels and dark sunglasses, immediately opened fire with pistols. Cinco was hit several times in the face and body. Her son Carlo, 37, sustained two bullets wounds in the left arm.

Carlo’s 47-year-old sister, Marian Jayme, who was seated in the backseat was unhurt and later executed an affidavit before the police. In her affidavit, Jayme said her sister had received several threats from a certain "Director Matibag" of the Comelec. Former Comelec information chief Angelina Matibag later denied any involvement with Cinco’s murder.

After shooting the victim, the suspects quickly sped-off towards President Quirino Avenue. Velma was rushed to the Manila Doctors Hospital but was declared dead on arrival . – Sandy Araneta