11 cops face raps for killing 2 men in fabricated buy-bust ops

Eleven operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) of San Jose del Monte Bulacan are facing criminal complaints before the Department of Justice for kidnapping and killing two men during a fabricated buy-bust operation in February.

The widow of the victim Erwin Mergal, Jasmin, and the mother of victim Jim Cordero, Rochill Galvez, have filed charges against CDEU CSJDM chief Police Major Leo Commendador dela Rosa, and Police Staff Sergeants Benjie Enconado, Jayson Legaspi, Irwin Yuson, Edmund Catubay Jr., Police Corporals Jay Leoncio, Herbert Hernandez, Raymond Bayan, Raul Malgapo and Patrolmen Erwin Sabido and Rusco Madla.

The charges were for kidnapping or serious illegal detention with murder, violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Death Investigation Division (DID) transmitted the complaint to DOJ for preliminary investigation.

According to the NBI-DID, the police spot report indicated that Mergal and Cordero were killed after engaging policemen in a gunfight during a buy-bust operation conducted by the CDEU on February 18 along Pacolis Road in Barangay Gaya-gaya.

Allegedly recovered from Mergal and Cordero were a caliber .38 Armscor revolver, an improvised shotgun and several sachets containing shabu.

However, witnesses revealed that the two victims were among six men who were forcibly taken while passing by a certain Edwardo Macapanas’ house in Towerville in Barangay Santo Cristo on the night of February 13.

On the same night, the CDEU conducted a buy-bust operation against Macapanas.

“Several minutes later, Erwin and (Cordero) passed by (Macapanas’) house on a motorcycle. They were flagged down, and searched by the operatives before they were brought inside (Macapanas’) house, then forcibly made to board the white van,” the NBI-DID said.

The NBI-DID said the six men, who were blindfolded and hog-tied, were then taken to the intelligence office of the CSJDM Police Office on the night of February 13.

A volunteer who watched the six men was also able to take photographs of them while they were under detention inside the CSJDM Police Office on February 14. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News