Military clears Army officer in councilor’s slay

Military investigators have cleared an Army officer and his men of any involvement in the Aug. 1 killing of a councilor in San Quintin, Pangasinan due to lack of evidence.

In a report submitted to Army chief Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado, Lt. Col. Emilio Hulipas, assistant chief for civil-military operations of the 7th Infantry Division, said their investigating team led by Lt. Col. Rodolfo Arizabal, 7th ID provost marshal, found no prima facie evidence or witnesses that could identify 1Lt. Roselio Cabarliza and six of his men in the killing of councilor Albert Sibayan over an alleged love triangle.

Hulipas said SPO1 Primitivo Fonsica, who is investigating the case, belied the possibility that some military personnel may be involved in the killing.

He said there was no investigation report being made “because there are no witnesses that could testify about 1Lt. Cabarliza’s presence during the assassination of the late councilor.”

“Instead what they have is only a spot report regarding the incident and (the) case was being turned over to SATT-2 Pangasinan Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Urdaneta City,” he added.

Hulipas said the investigating team sent to San Quintin town found out that Cabarliza and his men were charged for Sibayan’s killing because the Army officer is married to the councilor’s former wife, Charo Romero.

The court declared the marriage of Sibayan and Romero null and void last June 12, and Romero married Cabarliza on Aug. 8, Hulipas said in his report.

He said Fonsica and Inspector Melchor Piso, Pangasinan CIDG chief, belied the corroborated sworn statements of aggravating witnesses Florida Sibayan-Hidalgo, Arnel Nebres Hidalgo, Virginia Tejeresas Sibayan, Arnold Sibayan-Hidalgo and July Sunshine Moreno Gavina that Romero, Cabarliza and five John Does were behind the killing as there are no witnesses who could attest to their alleged involvement.

Hulipas said the police were allegedly being pressured by Sibayan’s relatives to file formal charges against Cabarliza, Romero and five others knowing that she married the Army officer.

“The relatives of the late councilor Sibayan were always bothering them daily in their headquarters upon knowing that Ms. Charo Romero had contracted marriage to Lt. Cabarliza on Aug. 8, 2008,” Hulipas added in his report.

Sibayan was gunned down near his house in Barangay Alac, San Quintin town on the night of July 1.