8 cops charged for Isabela slay

SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela , Philippines  – Murder complaints have been filed against eight police officers for the shooting to death and wounding of two others in an alleged ambush incident here during the day of the elections.

Those facing charges before the National Police Commission were identified as Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Sinaon, the city police chief; and his men, Chief Inspector Charlie Ang-yaon, Senior Inspector Cleto Atluna, SPO3 Allan Pascual, SPO3 Charlie Viernes, SPO1 Anthony Caser, PO3 John Lapat and PO3 Joel Saraos.

Sinaon was not available for comment. His men and co-accused in the complaint, however, denied the allegations against them, especially the ambush incident, which resulted to the death of one Allan Castañeto, 21, who died on the spot due to a bullet wound on the chest. 

Lawyer Elias Lelina, the complainants’ counsel, said that the same cases of murder, three counts of frustrated murder and 21 counts of attempted murder as well as falsification of public documents and perjury, were also filed against the suspects before the city prosecutors office on May 25.

A City Hall official, Miguel Salomon, reportedly deputy head of the city’s public safety and order department, was also included in the complaint.