'Boratong henchman' tagged in slay of 2 teens

MANILA, Philippines – A former policeman – identified as an alleged henchman of Pasig shabu tiangge (flea market) operator Amin Imam Boratong – is reportedly the same man who shot dead two teenage boys five years ago, according to a witness who surfaced recently.

Alberto Macafe, a vulcanizing shop helper and a resident of Barangay Sto. Tomas where the shabu tiangge was located, said former Police Officer 2 Ramil Along is the alleged killer of Donil Dale Gaveria and Alvin de la Cruz.

Macafe identified Along through photographs shown to him. Along is currently detained at the Nagpayong jail in Pasig City after he was arrested recently for possession of 12 sachets of shabu during a drug bust.

In his affidavit five years ago, Macafe told police investigators he could identify the gunman because he frequently saw him in their barangay.

The killing of Gaveria and De la Cruz was blamed on PO1 Bedo Montefalcon, a member of the Pasig City station anti-illegal drugs special task force.

Montefalcon was identified by the victims’ three companions through photographs shown them by police investigators.

However, State Prosecutor Misael Lagada dismissed the double murder and multiple attempted murder charges against Montefalcon on Oct. 19, 2005 for insufficiency of evidence.

But then justice secretary Raul Gonzalez reversed Lagada’s resolution and ordered the filing of the case against Montefalcon, who went into hiding after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Records show that the victims and companions Tarcila Flores, Timothy James Guevarra, and Alvedon Cruz were on their way home after watching a basketball game in Barangay Palatiw on May 29, 2005 when the tricycle they were riding was blocked by a beige Isuzu Crosswind at the corner of Catalina and F. Manalo streets.

A man wearing a police uniform alighted from the vehicle, walked towards the tricycle, grabbed Gaveria and shot him in the head.

The gunman walked back to the vehicle and sped off while the Crosswind’s other occupants kept on firing at the victims, hitting De la Cruz in the chest.

In his statement dated Oct. 6, 2006, Samer Palao, a government witness who played a key role in the conviction of Boratong and his second wife Sheryl Molera, identified Along as the one who killed Gaveria and De la Cruz.

Palao said Boratong ordered him to kill a drug pusher named Bugoy for failing to remit a large amount of money in his illegal drug business. He refused because he had important business to attend to, said Palao.

Palao was in front the city hall building when the teenagers were killed. He said the vehicle used by Along and his companions was owned by Boratong’s first wife, Memie Sultan Boratong.

Palao identified Along’s companions as Naser Labay, alias Buenas; Pangkatan Sultan, alias Boy Negro; and Mangotawan Sultan, alias Mac-Mac.

Armed with Palao’s statement, police filed murder charges against Boratong, Along and several others for the killing of the two teenagers but Gonzalez dismissed the case, claiming Palao’s testimony was mere “hearsay.”

With Macafe’s testimony, the family of Montefalcon is consulting their lawyers on their next move.