‘Rubout’ prober shot dead in Pasig

Six armed men shot and killed yesterday a police official reviewing the findings on the shootout between traffic policemen and three suspected carjackers at the Ortigas Center in Pasig City last year.

Chief Inspector Renato Marasigan, 53, assigned at the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) in Camp Crame, was shot dead at 10:05 a.m. while driving his white Mitsubishi Pajero (RAM 113) in Pasig City.

He sustained four gunshot wounds in the head and face.

Chief Superintendent Charlemagne Alejandrino, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD), blamed the attack on the New People’s Army (NPA) hit squad.

The NPA, which marked its 37th founding anniversary yesterday, earlier vowed to carry out attacks against police and military targets.

In a radio interview, however, NPA spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal denied having anything to do with the ambush-slay.

Marasigan had just left his house on M. Santos street in Barangay Malinao to report for work when four of the six gunmen opened fire at his Pajero as it slowed down for a right turn at the corner of E. Jacinto and Luna streets.

The suspects then walked away from the scene and boarded a passenger jeepney to escape.

Marasigan was the second policeman to be gunned down in Pasig City this week.

Last Sunday, SPO2 Ramon Borre, was cradling his grandson when shot dead by motorcycle-riding men in Barangay Pinagbuhatan.

Death threats

Marasigan’s wife, Venus, said she does not believe her husband was killed by communist rebels.

"Siya pa nga ang tumutulong sa mga inaapi," the wife said.

She noted, however, that her husband had been receiving death threats through his mobile phone since last year.

"Very vocal siya sa mga cases na hinahawakan niya. Baka may mga nasagasaan siya. May mga kaaway siya pero not in the service. Kung meron man, personal ‘yon," she said.

The couple is also engaged in the money lending business and real estate.

There were also reports that a number of drug pushers and users had approached Marasigan for advice in the past.

The slain police official, a law graduate, was a member of a three-man committee tasked to review the fact-finding committee report on the Nov. 7 shootout between Traffic Management Group (TMG) officers and three suspected carjackers in Ortigas Avenue.

The Commission on Human Rights ordered a probe on the "rubout" after video footage taken by a TV news crew showed several officers firing on seemingly helpless suspects.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Abaring, Pasig City police officer-in-charge, said they have no motive yet to the killing of Marasigan, who had been promoted to his new rank just last week.

"We are conducting a follow-up operation in the hope of getting the suspects," said Abaring, who is a kumpadre of the slain official.

The Pasig police chief said he met Marasigan last week while the latter was overseeing the construction of the Pasig City Elite retirees’ office at the police station.

"Original na Pasig City police ‘yang kumpadre ko kaya bilang pagtanaw sa mga dati niyang kasamahan, sariling pera niya ang ginamit para mapaayos ang opisina ng mga retirees," he said.

Abaring said Marasigan also intimated to him his plans to buy a bullet-proof vehicle costing P8 million because of the threats on his life.

Four-cornered attack

The Pasig police chief said Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) officers recovered 11 empty shells from caliber .45 pistols at the crime scene.

He said three of the bullets penetrated the windshield while four others pierced the door windows.

The Pasig City police chief said the four gunmen positioned themselves at the four corners of the vehicle and opened fire as Marasigan slowed down to take a right turn on an intersection located just a few meters from the barangay hall and health center of Barangay Malinao.

Two of their companions acted as lookouts.

"Nakaposte ang mga suspects sa four corners. Araw-araw naman dumadaan doon ang kumpare ko," Abaring said.

When Marasigan head slumped into the steering wheel bleeding, one of the suspects opened the door on the driver’s side and opened fire to finish him off.

He then joined his companions and walked away from the crime scene.

Abaring said Marasigan’s service firearm, a 9mm pistol, was found under the driver’s seat.

"Hindi na siya nakaputok. Kumpleto ang kanyang gamit sa loob ng sasakyan kaya’t na-rule out na ang robbery angle," he said.

A bystander who saw the face of one of the gunmen face was threatened as the suspects passed him.

"Isusunod kita," the gunman told the bystander.

The said witness still helped police come up with sketches of two of the gunmen.

The first gunman was described as 25 to 30 years old, 5’4" to 5’5" in height, with black kinky hair, fair complexion and medium built. He was wearing a maroon T-shirt, maong pants and rubber shoes.

The second gunman was 25 to 28 years old, with straight black hair, fair-skinned and medium built. He was wearing a blue T-shirt, maong pants and rubber shoes.

Change in routine

Marasigan was last seen alive while jogging with his civilian driver at the Evergreen cemetery along Raymundo street at 6 a.m. yesterday.

The driver usually takes Marasigan to his office.

But when they returned to their house yesterday, the driver was ordered to take a motorcycle to do his errands.

"Buwenas pa ako. Kung hindi tiyak nadamay ako sa ambush," a visibly shaken driver told Abaring.

Meanwhile, the IAS vowed to help in the investigation on the ambush-slay.

Willard Grageda, IAS chief for the administration and management division, said they would also conduct a probe to help identify the killers of Marasigan. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe