Suspect in director’s slay still has gun — NBI

Oliver Jameiro, the primary suspect in the killing of a TV director, still has the firearm he allegedly used in the shooting incident outside a bar in Makati City, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Albert Froilan Gaerlan, executive officer of the NBI-Background Investigation Division (BID), said yesterday that 32-year-old businessman Oliver Jameiro admitted he did not dump the Glock 357 pistol used in killing Luis Santiago, director of the ABS-CBN horror show Nginiig, and in wounding six others.

Earlier, Jameiro said he threw the gun into a plant box as he was fleeing from the crime scene in the early hours of June 8.

"Maybe by next week, we will have possession of the gun. He gave the gun to someone for safekeeping. He is already discussing the matter with his lawyers," Gaerlan said.

NBI-NCR director Edmund Arugay said the suspect is slowly opening up to investigators. "I am positive that by Monday, we will have the firearm."

Gaerlan said they believe that the firearm belongs to Marine Maj. Roberto Velasco. "There are only 40 registered owners of a Glock 357 and one of them is Maj. Velasco."

He added that even if Jameiro decides not to turn over the gun to the NBI, it would not weaken the charges they lodged against him before the Department of Justice last Tuesday.

The suspect has been slapped with homicide, attempted homicide and direct assault upon a person in authority charges. One of those wounded in the shooting incident was a Makati police official.

Arugay said that they are extending the deadline for Velasco and Jameiro’s female companion Charito Angeles, 35, a diamond dealer, to explain their alleged involvement in the shooting incident. They had until yesterday to appear at the NBI office.

Angeles, who Jameiro claimed handed him the gun after the brawl at the Venezia Bar, is reportedly in the US.

The decision to extend the deadline was made after Velasco’s lawyer, Alfredo Lazaro Jr., appealed for more time.

"This Tuesday would be the final chance for them to appear before charges are filed against them," Arugay said.

In a two-page letter to the NBI, Lazaro requested that his client be appraised of the nature of the investigation and the basis for issuing a subpoena.

"Similarly, we are requesting your office to provide us with copies of sworn statements, documents and other pieces of evidence," he said.

The NBI said Velasco would be asked to explain how his firearm ended up in Angeles’ possession.

Arugay said he should also explain his whereabouts in the early morning of June 8. "Was he present at the crime scene?"

In a previous interview, NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco said Angeles has criminal liability.

"At the very least, she is an accomplice to the crime of homicide, but it can even be upgraded to the crime as principal by inducement," he said. "In the case of the Marine major, his negligence caused the death of some people at the very least it will cause the filing of administrative charges."

In the early morning of June 8, Jameiro saw two women fighting at the parking lot outside the Venezia Bar located at the Ayala Center in Makati City.

As he was breaking up the fight, a man allegedly punched him in the face while another man grabbed his neck.

He fell and other people started beating him up.

He managed to crawl toward a parked vehicle allegedly owned by Angeles.

She then handed him the pistol, which he used to fire at the crowd.