Magpali surrenders, denies running gun-for-hire gang —PNP

A dismissed cop who was allegedly leading the Magpali gun-for-hire group operating in the Ilocos-Pangasinan region has surrendered to authorities, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Tuesday.

In a statement, PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said dismissed Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilson Magpali showed up at the office of PNP Intelligence Group (PNP IG) on Monday.

Magpali also submitted an affidavit attesting that he voluntarily submitted himself to the PNP “to clear my name, seek redress, and protection from possible harm against me.”

“Fearing for my life and to clear my name, honor, and integrity and to clear myself from the investigation being conducted against my person, I voluntarily went to the Intelligence Group in Camp Crame, Quezon City to clear my name of the allegations of my alleged involvement,” he said in his affidavit.

“I am not the leader of the Magpali Gun for Hire Group and has no knowledge on the accusation of planned killing of politicians in La Union,” he added.

According to the PNP, Magpali expressed willingness to cooperate with authorities and even requested PNP-IG for temporary custody to undergo investigation.

In 2019, Eleazar said Magpali left his rented apartment unit in Barangay Legazpi, Tayug, Pangasinan after he was linked to the killing of Freddie Ramirez.

The PNP IG and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group were ordered to work on the operational research and case-build-up efforts against Magpali and his group.

According to the PNP, the Magpali group was allegedly involved in many assassinations in the Ilocos Region.

“We respect his rights as a private individual. Until there is an order from the Court to arrest him, he remains a free man,” Eleazar said.

“We acknowledge his manifestation of good faith in submitting himself to us, but, the moment we establish a case against  him, he will face his charges squarely,” he added.

The PNP improved its efforts to locate and arrest members of the Magpali Group operating in the Ilocos-Pangasinan region after President Rodrigo Duterte instructed them to do so, the police organization said.—AOL, GMA News