Cops release sketch of Binay aide killers

Police yesterday released artist sketches of three of the four suspects in the killing of Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay’s security aide in Taguig last Saturday.

Investigators said the killers of Pablo Glean, 53, who was also chief of Makati’s Business Permits and Licensing Office, are 40 to 45 years old, all medium built and fair-skinned.

Superintendent Alfred Corpus, Taguig police chief, said witnesses have provided officers with testimonies to help solve the case.

Glean was killed by three armed men last Saturday morning at a gas station located at 32nd Avenue in Global City. One of the suspects acted as a lookout.

A gas station security guard, identified as Benjur Radam, was also killed in the attack that took place at about 7:30 a.m. last Saturday.

Glean’s three companions — Socrates Galo, Alheri Gigante, and Felix Santiago — were hit by stray bullets and were rushed to the Makati Medical Center for treatment.

Responding policemen recovered several spent shells from caliber .45 pistol at the crime scene.

Glean, a member of a motorcycle riders club, was at the Global City to meet fellow bikers. He dropped by the gasoline station’s snack shop for coffee when attacked by the three suspects.

The suspects fled the scene on board a taxicab after shooting their target in the head and chest.

Binay, for his part, maintained that Glean took a bullet for him, believing that the killing of the City Hall official was politically motivated.

The victim was killed a day after thousands of his supporters flocked to City Hall to declare support for the local chief executive, who claims he has been targeted by Malacañang for suspension.

Binay alleged Malacañang plans to suspend him, along with his vice mayor and councilors, based on a complaint filed by a known political rival.

The mayor said Glean submitted to him three weeks ago an intelligence report about the existence of "Task Force Spider" and "Operation Phoenix," both tasked with conducting "special operations" in Makati City.

"We have all the reason to believe that this assassination was a critical part of those plans," Binay said.

No leads yet

Metro police chief Director Reynaldo Varilla admitted yesterday they are facing a blank wall in their investigation into the killing.

As police released sketches of the three gunmen, Varilla called for the public’s cooperation in solving the Glean slay.

The Metro police chief said he has sent a police team to coordinate with the family of Glean to determine whether they knew who wanted him dead.

"Kapirasong lead lang ang kailangan naming para matukoy ang mga may kagagawan ng krimen. At malaking bagay ang magiging papel ng pamilya ng biktima," he said.

Varilla also directed Southern Police District (SPD) director Senior Superintendent Ricardo Padilla to form a team of police investigators to focus on the Glean case.

"Sa ngayon, hindi pa natin makita kung ano ang motibo sa pagpatay sa kanya," Varilla said in an interview. "Pero miyembro siya ng Guardian at isa iyon sa mga tinitingnan natin."

A former Army soldier, Glean was an active member of the Philippine Guardian Brotherhood Inc.

For his part, Padilla said they are looking into all angles like politics and enemies made by Glean as part of his job at City Hall.

"We are leaving no stone unturned in our investigation to get Glean’s killers," said Padilla.

He directed the Taguig police chief to coordinate with his counterpart in Makati for the speedy solution to the case.

Meanwhile, Malacañang appealed to Binay not to be so quick in putting the blame on the national government.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said all parties must avoid making "political statements" at this time since the investigation into the incident had just started.

"We do not even know yet what really happened. So how can we say that it was a political activity?" Ermita asked.

He said Binay’s camp was possibly trying to instill in the people’s minds that the government was behind the attacks on the opposition.

The mayor earlier said that the slay was a political killing with a clear message directed at him.

While probers are still clueless as to the motive behind the murder, sources at Camp Crame claimed the murder may have something to do with the ongoing rift among Guardian members.

"Malayo sa politika ito. Kasi kung politika ito, eh si Mayor Binay na ang itinumba at hindi siya," a Camp Crame insider said. –With Non Alquitran, Aurea Calica