10 SPD cops face raps over ‘rubout’

MANILA, Philippines - Ten Southern Police District (SPD) policemen and two civilians were charged yesterday with murder by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for their reported involvement in the alleged rubout of a car salesman in Las Piñas City last August. 

Mitsubishi car salesman Timothy Alon was previously reported by police officials as having led police officers in a car chase that started along Aguirre Avenue in BF Homes and ended at El Grande Avenue in Las Piñas, during which Alon reportedly shot at the lawmen chasing him and hit at least five vehicles.

The victim, however, tested negative for gunshot residue, according to a report by the NBI.

NBI-Death Investigation Unit chief Joel Tovera said they filed murder charges with the Department of Justice against Senior Police Officer 1 Domingo Andes Jr.; Police Officer 3 Noli Garcia; Police Officers 2 Napoleon Alattica Jr., Omar Mundas, Carlo Cabangon and Jayson Saguid; and Police Officers 1 Khevin-Klein Bueno, Rodolfo Joson, Juanito Carag and James Locsin; Parañaque City government employee Jaime Pedutem and Parañaque City police employee Salvador Gapas.

Almost all of the policemen are with the Parañaque City police except for Bueno, who is detailed at Precinct 1 of the Muntinlupa City police.

The victim’s parents, Wilfredo and Monet Alon, accompanied by lawyer Dennis Manalo, went to NBI Director Virgilio Mendez yesterday morning and thanked the bureau for the speedy filing of the case.

Arrest was enough

The NBI said even if a handgun and prohibited drugs were found in Alon’s possession, he should not have been killed but merely arrested.

The NBI noted that Bueno claimed that at around 8 p.m. on Aug. 21, he was headed home on his motorcycle and as he was traveling along Aguirre Avenue, a black Mitsubishi Montero Sport (UZI-388) – driven by Alon – reportedly sideswiped him.

Bueno said he chased Alon’s vehicle and knocked on the driver’s window and when the window was rolled down, he reportedly saw the victim with a companion. He then introduced himself as a police officer, but Alon reportedly pulled out a gun and said, “Ano ngayon kung pulis ka (So what if you’re a policeman)?”

Bueno said he sought the help of two village security guards and a group of police officers on patrol to apprehend Alon.

He said he fired at the tires of the Montero and claimed he saw two guards shooting at the vehicle itself.

Bueno claimed he heard burst of gunfire from Alon’s car and he retaliated, while the guards continued shooting at the Montero, which sped away.

Bueno alleged that by the time they reached El Grande Avenue in Las Piñas, he heard more gunshots.

Joson said he was in a patrol car with Pedutem when they encountered Bueno, an off-duty policeman. Joson said Bueno asked their help in apprehending Alon, who Bueno claimed was driving recklessly and nearly hit him.

The chase ended with Alon’s vehicle along El Grande Avenue, Bueno said.  

Crime scene findings

Philippine National Police (PNP) Scene of the Crime Operations personnel reported that they saw Alon’s body in the driver’s seat of his bullet-riddled car. Beside him were a .45 caliber pistol, loaded with six bullets, and four heat-sealed sachets of what was believed to be shabu.

According to the NBI, PNP medico-legal findings showed Alon sustained five gunshot wounds, all on the left side of his body. Three were in the armpit, one in the palm of his hand and one in the head.

The NBI also said a slug recovered from inside Alon’s car was traced to Bueno’s pistol and empty shells recovered from El Grande Avenue were also traced to Bueno’s handgun.