CHR recommends raps vs Abra top cop

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines  – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-Cagayan Valley has recommended the filing of charges against a police colonel for the death of five suspected guns-for-hire in Cagayan.

The CHR said investigation showed there is probable cause to charge Senior Superintendent Alexander Rafael, Abra police director, with criminal and administrative cases before the Office of the Ombudsman.

 In a report, CHR Region II special investigator Anthony Cruz said the victims – Michael Bermudez, Leonard Apolonio, Daniel Villamor, Nomer Biendima and Isabelo Bernal – all from Abra province, could have been victims of extrajudicial killings. 

The Tuguegarao City police office said the five were killed in an encounter with Abra-based policemen led by Rafael, a native of Cagayan, in Lallo town last April 29.

Rafael said they were forced to fire back at the suspects when the group refused to stop when they tried to flag them down in Barangay San Lorenzo in Lallo town.  

He claimed the slain suspects were the same group of men on a Toyota Corona car, who tailed him when he recently went to his province.

Cagayan Valley police director Chief Superintendent Rodrigo de Gracia did not respond to calls for comment on the CHR findings. His staff said he was in a command conference in Manila. 

De Gracia earlier said one of the slain suspects was arrested by the Abra police, and allegedly confessed their group’s operation in Cagayan, including a plot to assassinate several prominent politicians in the province. 

One of those allegedly being targeted for liquidation was former police general Jefferson Soriano, who plans to run for mayor of Tuguegarao City in next year’s election. 

“But the problem now is no one corroborates this confession. So until now these are mere hearsays,” said De Gracia, adding that the allegations that the slain suspects had been coddled by another Cagayan politician also remain as speculation.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group had filed murder charges against Tuguegarao City Vice Mayor Danilo Baccay after one of the firearms reportedly recovered from the slain suspects was found to be registered under his name.