Nine policemen who were tagged in the killing of Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino in March last year surrendered on Tuesday night, Feb. 15, following the issuance of the arrest warrant against them for a case of murder.
Gen. Dionardo Carlos, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said those who surrendered are all facing a case of four counts of murder a case of frustrated murder over the death of his security aide, adding that their surrender came after a Calbayog City court issued an arrest warrant against them.
They were identified as Police Lt. Col. Harry Sucayre, Police Maj. Shyrile Tan, Capt. Dino Goles, Lt. Julio Armeza Jr., Staff Sgt. Neil Cebu, Staff Sgt. Edsel Omega, Staff Sgt. Randy Merelos, Cpl. Julius Garcia, Pat. Niño Salem.
Tan, Sucayre, Omega and Cebu have already been dismissed from the service in November last year based on the recommendation of the Internal Affairs Service.
"They are now detained at the DSOU custodial facility in Camp Crame,” said Carlos.
"Other accused PNP personnel still in active service are placed Leave of Absence Without Pay status while under detention," he adde.d
The charges stemmed from the alleged ambush of Aquino in March which were reportedly perpetrated by the local police forces allegedly due to local politics.
But the policemen denied that it was an ambush, stressing that the firefight erupted when the security personnel of Aquino fired at them over suspicions that the vehcile they were riding was tailing the mayor's car.
The initial result of the investigation, however, revealed that the attack on the Aquino was planned.
“The nine accused are now considered Persons Under Police Custody while awaiting further orders from the Court. The PNP commits its 100 percent cooperation in the prosecution of the case,” Carlos said.