THE Justice department has issued subpoenas to the policemen facing multiple murder charges over the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa and fellow inmate Raul Yap in their jail cells in the Baybay City provincial prison on November 5.
The subpoenas were sent to the respondents’ mother units as well as to the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame.
The respondents are expected to obtain copies of the complaints on the first day of the preliminary investigation, set for December 20, and are expected to submit their counter-affidavits.
The complaint was filed by the National Bureau of Investigation, which concluded that Espinosa and Yap were victims of a rubout.
Facing complaints for multiple murder are Supt. Marvin Marcos, chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 8 (PNP-CIDG 8); Chief Insp. Leo Daio Laraga; Senior Insp. (SI) Deogracia Pedong Diaz; SI Fritz Bioco Blanco; SPO4 Juanito Ampado Duarte; SPO4 Melvin Mendoza Caboyit; SPO4 Eric Palattao Constantino; SPO2 Benjamin Layague Dacallos; SPO2 Alphinor Milla Serrano Jr.; PO3 Johnny Abuda Ibanez; PO3 Norman Tiu Abellanosa; PO2 Niel Patrimonio Centino; PO1 Bernard Rodriguez Orpilla; PO3 Lloyd Ortinez Ortiguesa; PO1 Jerlan Sadia Cabiyaan; Cristal Jane Briones Gisma; Divine Grace Baclas Songalia, all assigned at PNP-CIDG 8; as well as Chief Inspector Calixto Cabardo Canilla Jr.; Inspector Lucresito Adana Candelosas; SPO2 Antonio Romangca Docil; SPO1 Mark Christian Castillo Cadilo; PO2 John Ruel Baldevia Doculan; and PO2 Jaime Pacuan Bacsal, all assigned at Regional Maritime Unit 8.
Laraga, Abellanosa and Paul Olendan face a separate complaint for perjury.
“There was unison in their purpose and action, signifying that they were all moved by a single criminal intent,” the NBI said, in its complaint.
The respondents said Espinosa and Yap had guns and refused to allow the raiding team to search their cells.
The police raiding team led by Marcos, which arrived at the provincial prison at 4 a.m., said they were executing search warrants on Espinosa and Yap.
Despite the filing of charges, President Rodrigo Duterte said he still believed the police.
“The NBI is now saying murder. All right. Unless there is a case filed and [they are] convicted, I would still believe the police,” Duterte told members of the Filipino community in Phnom Phen.
He insisted that he wanted Marcos—who has also been accused of taking drug money—reinstated because he wanted to see how far the “contamination” or his links to illegal drug went.
He also denied he was behind the spate of summary executions in the war on drugs, but said there would be no letup in the bloody campaign. With John Paolo Bencito