DPWH ready to give cash reward for arrest of Aquino's killers

MANILA, Philippines – Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. yesterday said that he would hand over the P1-million reward to those responsible for the arrest of the alleged gunman in the murder of one of the agency’s top officials, but only after it has been proven that the Philippine National Police apprehended the right man.

Ebdane said that he would fulfill the promise he made and give the reward but only when he is satisfied that the 23-year-old Chivas Gerona, said to be known as “Sniper” in the Revolutionary Proletariat Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB), was the one who killed DPWH Undersecretary for Luzon Ramon Aquino March.

“We still have to check. We cannot just accept the pronouncement of any general. There is a procedure that we need to follow. There is a need to validate or check with the DPWH witness, if he (Gerona) is the same person (suspect). I just hope they would arrest the right person,” said Ebdane, who once served as PNP chief.

He would also make countercheck with the Manila Police District, which was the original unit tasked to investigate into the killing of Aquino.

Once he has confirmed that Gerona killed the official, the DPWH would give P1 million to the informant or tipster, another P1 million to the operating unit, the Northern Police District.

“The P5 million money raised for Aquino is here. It is intact. We would also give P1 million to anyone who could identify the mastermind or who ordered Aquino killed, whether he is the informant, investigator or the suspect,” Ebdane said.

Bounty

A group of concerned contractors have reportedly pooled their resources together to come up with a hefty bounty not only for the mastermind but also for every perpetrator.

Ebdane added that he is also contemplating on making arrangements to speak with the suspect Gerona. “I would like to do that (talk to the gunman) but not now. I do not want to interfere with the police investigation.”

He appealed to the investigators not to telegraph their every move. He often said that he would prefer that they work slowly but sure of the arrest. “If they make an arrest, they should just follow the procedure.”

At around 3:15 p.m. of March 11, Aquino, his bodyguard Tony Cabareta, and driver Victor Salonga were on board a black Toyota Fortuner (ZDW-319). They had just exited the main gate of the DPWH and were waiting for an opportunity to make a turn when the unidentified armed suspects reportedly shot the windows on the driver side, front passenger side and the back passenger side.

Aquino was seated at the back, while Cabareta occupied the front passenger seat and Salonga was in the driver seat.

Aquino was reportedly on his way to Malacañang to attend a meeting.

He died eight days later, March 19, at the Manila Doctors Hospital-Intensive Care Unit (Madox-ICU) due to multiple organ failure. The doctors said he expired at 3:58 p.m.

Based on their medical diagnosis, the attending physicians said that Aquino died of multiple-organ failure with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), hepatic failure, acute renal failure, encephalopathy and coagulopathies secondary to sepsis secondary to peritonitis and pneumonia.

The official also suffered gunshot wounds, with multiple severe hepatic lacerations and right lung, right diaphragm, and right upper arm soft tissue multiple lacerations.

Aquino also had hypertensive cardiovascular disease and abdominal obesity.