NCRPO to probe release of 2 South Africans with murder raps

Metro police chief Director Leopoldo Bataoil ordered yesterday a thorough probe on the mysterious release of two South Africans accused of murdering a guest relation officer (GRO) in Pasig City last Oct. 20.

Bataoil said the Pasig City court ordered the release of South Africans Cristo Daniels and Roland Terence so their probe will primarily center on possible violations of the police investigation procedure.

“We will check the propriety of the police action on the case, how it was handled and if there is certain violations of the police investigation procedure,” Bataoil said in an interview.

He directed Superintendent Alfred Corpus, head of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management (RIDM) of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) to summon all Eastern Police District (EPD) personnel involved in the case.

Daniels and Terence were accused of killing GRO Shahanie Maongco in their rented house at Valle Verde Subdivision last Oct. 20.

Superintendent Eduardo Villena, head of the EPD’s District’s Investigation and Detective Management Division (DIDMD), filed murder charges against Daniels and Terence based on the testimony of housemaid Daisy Grace Libuna, who claimed she saw Maongco’s lifeless body after hearing a loud crashing sound from the master’s bedroom.

However, prosecutor Pedro Oribe ordered the dismissal of the murder case against Daniels, Terence and their driver, Andrew Manabat, after Maongco’s parents submitted a two-page affidavit of desistance and withdrawal of complaint against the accused.

Upon receipt of Oribe’s release order on Oct. 19, the South Africans and their driver were allowed to walk out of their jail by nighttime. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) showed that Daniels and Terence hastily left the country on Oct. 20.

EPD director Chief Superintendent Lino Calingasan recommended to Bataoil a thorough probe of the two South Africans’ mysterious release as he described as hearsay reports that P5 million changed hands for the suspects’ freedom.

“Even if the court had ordered them released, we should have been afforded at least five days to coordinate with other government agencies like the BI and embassy to determine whether they are facing other charges,” Calingasan said.

Villena denied having something to do with the release the two South Africans, claiming he was on leave at the time. “I was not around. I am on leave and have my property clearance since Nov. 13,” said Villena, noting that he immediately filed a motion for reconsideration on the next working day upon receipt of a report on the release of Daniels and Terence.

“I solved the crime. I arrested and charged them in court,” said Villena, adding that the release order of the prosecutor must be complied as a matter of duty regardless of time as provided for by the Constitution.

Corpus said they already created a pre-evaluation board to determine whether there is a probable cause on a complaint by Calingasan against Villena and his men.

“Once there is probable cause, we will initiate summary dismissal proceedings against them,” said Corpus, claiming that Villena is now on floating status at the NCRPO.