CIDG-6 says: “Gunman” in Malabor slay is a cop

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The suspected gunman in the killing of Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Renato Malabor and his bodyguard Leody Jomilla was a policeman, and that the alleged mastermind was identified as a “known personality” of the province.

Senior Superintendent Peter Naboye, regional director of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-6, confirmed these data, as he identified the triggerman as Police Officer 1 Roberto Rito, who was detailed at the Isabela Municipal Police Office.

Naboye however said the mastermind was included in the case as John Doe, although the person was already identified. He refused to divulge more details on this, saying the CIDG-6 was still gathering enough evidence.

As this developed, the CIDG-6 on Wednesday afternoon filed two murder charges against 12 suspects, including Rito and five John Does, at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor with docket number NPSDOC. NO. 14-INV-15G-00337.

"The policeman was included in the case because the investigation showed that he was the gunman," Naboye said, adding that the police-suspect was still on leave. Unconfirmed reporters said Rito went on leave a week after Malabor and Jomilla were gunned down outside a cockpit in Isabela town on June 28.

Naboye said witnesses were able to identify Rito as the gunman, adding that a minor-witness found the latter’s wallet at the crime scene. The other suspects were already at the cockpit at around 4 p.m. that day and witnesses saw their vehicles, far from the area where they apparently served as lookouts.

Other identified suspects were Jacklyn Villaqer, Felipe Juntarciego, alias Bongbong, alias Aling, alias Nonoy, alias Jason, and five John Does. Villaqer and Juntarciego were already in police custody, after they were arrested in two raids at Himamaylan City early this month, said Naboye.

Villaqer was apprehended on July 9 at Barangay Aguisan of Himamaylan, and the CIDG-6 operatives seized from his possession a homemade .38-caliber revolver with two live ammunition. Juntarciego was arrested on July 25, also at Aguisan, where he yielded an M-16 rifle with two magazines containing 40 ammunition, and a .38-caliber revolver with four bullets and several sachets of shabu worth P30,000.

Naboye said Villaqer admitted that he served as a lookout on the assassination of the PB member. He pointed at Juntarciego as among those involved in the killing, leading to the latter’s capture. On Tuesday, the police submitted the documentary requirements and evidence to Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the filing of the charges against the 12 suspects "is a first step of giving justice" to the deaths of Malabor and Jomilla. "It's one thing to file a case, it's one thing to prove it. I hope the authorities can sustain the evidence and give justice to the victims," he said.

On the P2.5-million reward money offered to anyone who can give information on the whereabouts of the suspects, Lacson said: "We have to prove the witnesses are credible. We have to prove if it's the real suspect and if they are guilty. He also believed the reward money should be given after the conviction of the accused.

Meanwhile, Lacson said the successor of Malabor, former PB Member Angelito Colmenares, can assume office at the PB starting next week, pending the appointment from the Office of the President. The documents are now with Malacañang, he added. (FREEMAN)