4 cops charged in slay of Cebu bet, husband

MANILA, Philippines — Charges of robbery and two counts of murder were filed on Wednesday against four policemen and a former policeman in connection with the killing of a local candidate and her husband in San Fernando, Cebu on Feb. 13.

S/Sgts. Rene Catamora, Junrey Ypil and Junrey Batobalonos of the Consolacion, Danao and Lapu-Lapu police, respectively, were charged before the Cebu provincial prosecutor’s office along with M/Sgt. Alvin Enad of Ronda police station in Cebu City and former policeman Esmeraldo Quillosa.

Except for Enad, the suspects are now under police custody. Catamora, who was the first to surrender, identified his supposed cohorts.

The five were tagged in the killing of barangay kagawad Ma. Louela Barangui-an, who was running for town councilor, and her husband Pedro at their residence in Barangay Panadtaran.

The suspects claimed they had only planned to rob the couple, but shot them when they resisted.

Col. Engelbert Soriano, Cebu provincial police director, said probers are not ruling out politics as the motive for the killing.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos ordered the Central Visayas police to conduct a thorough investigation.

“They will have their day in court. Meanwhile, our Internal Affairs Service will conduct an investigation of active police personnel,” Carlos said in a statement.

He said the involvement of the four policemen should not result in a sweeping condemnation of the entire police force.

“We respond to allegations against rogue cops and we recognize the good deeds and achievements of our personnel,” Carlos said.

Meanwhile, two more policemen implicated in the killing of a bodyguard of former Biliran congressman Glenn Chong, Richard Santillan, and his companion Gessamyn Casing in Cainta, Rizal in 2018 surrendered on Wednesday.

Chief M/Sgt. Edgar Awa-ao and Cpl. Jonel Adin were  among  more than 20 people ordered arrested by Antipolo City Regional Trial Court Judge Miguel Asuncion over the incident.

Ten other policemen included in the charge sheet surrendered in Legazpi, Albay on Monday.

Santillan was  driving Chong’s car with Casing as his passenger when they reportedly encountered the policemen who were looking for a stolen vehicle. –  Iris Hazel Mascardo/The Freeman, Ed Amoroso