Family of slain suspect in Escudero slay demands autopsy
January 23, 2006 | 12:00am
Sensing foul play, the family of the alleged suspect in the killing of Manuel Zachary Escudero asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an autopsy after he was allegedly shot inside a Manila Police District (MPD) station early Friday morning.
NBI-Special Task Force (STF) Regional Director Reynaldo Esmeralda said that the brother of suspect Victor Martin requested the autopsy as Martin allegedly sustained four gunshot wounds while under the custody of the Malate police station.
Esmeralda said that Martin’s brother Gil is hoping that the autopsy would "explain cover up and seek justice for his untimely death." Martin’s family, he added, fears that the results of the Scene of the Crime Operatives-Philippine National Police (SOCO-PNP) might be biased.
"I have already dispatched a medico legal of the NBI who, together with Martin’s doctor relative, would conduct an autopsy. From the autopsy, we would be able to confirm how many bullet wounds he sustained and if he was shot at close range," Esmeralda said.
The NBI official added that they would also verify if the suspect was shot while he was handcuffed.
"If his hands were still in cuffs when he was shot by the police, there should be markings of the cuffs on his wrists. We would also like to know if his hands were positioned in front or at the back," Esmeralda added.
A team was sent to visit the crime scene where Escudero was killed and to look for witnesses. The police have linked Martin to the killing of the 19-year-old Escudero, a distant cousin of Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero, last Thursday.
Martin’s mother is also expected to drop by at the NBI-STF office on Tuesday to attest that her son was with her the whole day on Thursday until 5 p.m. The suspect reportedly comes from a well-to-do family which owns the Reliance Express Service, a courier company located at 1195 Gen. Luna Street, Ermita, Manila.
His mother lives in BF Homes- Parañaque while Gil is from BF Homes-Las Piñas. The nature of their family business, a courier company, may explain why he has a motorcycle. At the time of his death, he was reportedly helping run the business.
The young Escudero, a freshman Information Technology student, was shot dead after he tried to resist an attempt by two motorcycle-riding men to snatch his Nokia 3100 cellular phone at the corner of Arellano and Vito Cruz streets in Malate. He died of a lone gunshot wound in the chest. This prompted the MPD to launch a manhunt on the suspects.
The police conducted a follow- up operation in Tramo, Pasay City regarding a recent robbery-hold-up incident and reportedly chanced upon Martin and Leopoldo Villanueva. They were immediately brought to the police station for questioning.
PO2 Jesus de Leon was reportedly interrogating Martin when the latter said he needed to relieve himself and asked for his handcuffs to be removed. It was at this juncture that the suspect allegedly tried to grab De Leon’s firearm and a single shot was accidentally fired.
PO2 Celso Tabobo III heard the commotion and when he checked on De Leon he saw his fellow officer being subdued by the suspect. This allegedly prompted him to shoot Martin twice. They brought him to the Ospital ng Maynila where he was declared dead upon arrival.
NBI-Special Task Force (STF) Regional Director Reynaldo Esmeralda said that the brother of suspect Victor Martin requested the autopsy as Martin allegedly sustained four gunshot wounds while under the custody of the Malate police station.
Esmeralda said that Martin’s brother Gil is hoping that the autopsy would "explain cover up and seek justice for his untimely death." Martin’s family, he added, fears that the results of the Scene of the Crime Operatives-Philippine National Police (SOCO-PNP) might be biased.
"I have already dispatched a medico legal of the NBI who, together with Martin’s doctor relative, would conduct an autopsy. From the autopsy, we would be able to confirm how many bullet wounds he sustained and if he was shot at close range," Esmeralda said.
The NBI official added that they would also verify if the suspect was shot while he was handcuffed.
"If his hands were still in cuffs when he was shot by the police, there should be markings of the cuffs on his wrists. We would also like to know if his hands were positioned in front or at the back," Esmeralda added.
A team was sent to visit the crime scene where Escudero was killed and to look for witnesses. The police have linked Martin to the killing of the 19-year-old Escudero, a distant cousin of Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero, last Thursday.
Martin’s mother is also expected to drop by at the NBI-STF office on Tuesday to attest that her son was with her the whole day on Thursday until 5 p.m. The suspect reportedly comes from a well-to-do family which owns the Reliance Express Service, a courier company located at 1195 Gen. Luna Street, Ermita, Manila.
His mother lives in BF Homes- Parañaque while Gil is from BF Homes-Las Piñas. The nature of their family business, a courier company, may explain why he has a motorcycle. At the time of his death, he was reportedly helping run the business.
The young Escudero, a freshman Information Technology student, was shot dead after he tried to resist an attempt by two motorcycle-riding men to snatch his Nokia 3100 cellular phone at the corner of Arellano and Vito Cruz streets in Malate. He died of a lone gunshot wound in the chest. This prompted the MPD to launch a manhunt on the suspects.
The police conducted a follow- up operation in Tramo, Pasay City regarding a recent robbery-hold-up incident and reportedly chanced upon Martin and Leopoldo Villanueva. They were immediately brought to the police station for questioning.
PO2 Jesus de Leon was reportedly interrogating Martin when the latter said he needed to relieve himself and asked for his handcuffs to be removed. It was at this juncture that the suspect allegedly tried to grab De Leon’s firearm and a single shot was accidentally fired.
PO2 Celso Tabobo III heard the commotion and when he checked on De Leon he saw his fellow officer being subdued by the suspect. This allegedly prompted him to shoot Martin twice. They brought him to the Ospital ng Maynila where he was declared dead upon arrival.
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