By Dharel Placido, ABS-CBNnews.com
Updated as of 07/25/2013 7:44 PM
MANILA (UPDATED) – Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Thursday said there is strong evidence to show that police escorts are behind the killing of Ozamis gang leader Ricky Cadavero and his henchman Wilfredo Panogalinga Jr. last July 15.
Two senior policemen are now facing murder charges following an investigation by a Philippine National Police (PNP) fact-finding team led by Director Catalino Cuy, PNP director for personnel and records management.
At a press conference in Camp Crame, Roxas said the strongest evidence is the testimony of a suspect who admitted to shooting the van carrying Cadavero, Panogalinga and police escorts in San Pedro, Laguna to make it appear that an ambush incident occurred.
The PNP – Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) in Calabazon earlier claimed that men aboard a motorcycle fired shots at the van. They said Cadavero and Panogalinga then tried to grab their guns but were eventually shot dead during the struggle.
Roxas said the suspect-turned-witness, who is now under protective custody of the police, claimed that he was ordered by one of the police officers to shoot the van from the outside, debunking the police’s claim of an ambush.
“He admitted that he was the one who shot the right windshield and front right wheel of the the Toyota Hi Ace van. Hindi totoo na nagkaroon ito ng mga motorsiklong naghahabol o pagpapaputok mula sa isang motorcycle rider,” Roxas said.
“He also averred that he believes that the four gunshots that he heard coming from the rear portion of the van, one meter away from where he was, was the one that hit Cadavero and Panogalinga. He did not notice anyone shoot the van from the outside.”
As a result, senior Inspector Manuel Magat and Inspector Efren Oco are now facing murder charges, Roxas said.
Those facing perjury and obstruction charges are: RSOG Calabarzon Commander Supt. Danilo Mendoza; Senior Inspector Fernando Cardona; Senior Police Officers 1 Joseph Ortega, Jayson Semacas and Genaro Degala; Police Officers 3 Sherwin Bulan, Ramil Gonzales, Marvin Mejia, and Eduardo Cruz; Police Officers 2 Conrado Bautista, Exiel Reyes, and Kristofferson Reyes; and Police Officer 1 Ryan Rey Gado.
Roxas said further investigation will determine whether more policemen will be included in the murder charge sheet. He added that some policemen-suspects have expressed their desire to turn witness.
He said the investigation will also include the determination of the motive behind the killing.
“Hindi pa alam ang dahilan. Ang punto is nabaril ang dalawang ito while in the custody of the police. At ang unang ibinigay nila na istorya ay hindi totoo,” he said.
He added that investigators have yet to determine how Cadavero and Panogalinga ended up with the Calabrzon police and RSOG personnel even when the Dasmariñas City police were the ones who captured them.
Meanwhile, Roxas said only administrative charges have been filed so far against Calabarzon Police director Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona.
“Kukumpletuhin pa ang imbestigasyon at susundin natin kung saan tumungo ang ebidensya. Wala tayong sisinuhin, wala tayong sasalbahin o iwa-whitewash dito… Susundin natin ang ebidensya kung saan man ito umabot,” Roxas said.
Killing was ‘well-planned’
Roxas said various circumstances also suggest that the killing was “well-planned,” bolstering claims of a rubout.
“Hindi kailangang maging imbestigador upang mabatid ang tangkang patahimikin sina Cadavero at Panogalinga at habambuhay na maitago ang maaari nilang isiwalat ukol sa ilang alagad ng batas,” Roxas said.
“Sa takot na ma-isapubliko ang pang-aabuso at katiwalian, ang kapangyarihang kaloob ng taumbayan, ginamit ng mga sangkot na pulis para sa kasamaan.”
Roxas said the actions of the Calabarzon cops leading to the death of Cadavero and Panogalinga also suggest that the killing was intentional.
These actions include the police’s “snatching” of Cadavero and Panogalinga from the Bureau of Corrections, which was supposed to hold the suspects in custody, following a press conference in Camp Crame; and the decision of the police convoy to pass through a “circuitious and isolated” area in Laguna where the suspects were killed.
“Pinili daw nila ito dahil walang traffic. They might be correct on that aspect, pero kung susuriin natin, they will really choose that route kasi may mga portion dyan na madilim,” Cuy said.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier criticized the RSOG personnel for taking custody of Cadavaero and Panogalinga.
The RSOG personnel brought the gang members to Cavite for an inquest proceeding and were supposed to bring them to Camp Vicente Lim in Laguna, but the DOJ said this could have been done inside New Bilibid Prison.
Meanwhile, Roxas clarified that there is no direct link between the killing of Cadavero and Panogalinga and the re-arrest of drug suspects Jackson Dy and wife Wang Li Na, whose escape was aided by members of the Ozamis gang.
Cadavero was recaptured by policemen on the morning of July 12; Dy and his wife were also recaptured on the evening of the same day.
Roxas said the police had been conducting surveillance operations on the drug suspects three weeks before the re-arrest of Cadavero and Panogalinga.
“Mariin nilang intatanggi na nung nahuli lang si Cadavero nila nalaman kung nasaan si Jackson Dy,” Roxas said.
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