Murder raps filed vs cops probing RCBC massacre

MANILA, Philippines - Thirty-eight policemen are facing multiple murder charges before the Department of Justice in connection with the alleged rubout of three suspects in the gruesome RCBC bank heist in Cabuyao, Laguna last May 16. The complaints were filed Tuesday by the relatives of slain suspects – ex-village captain Vivencio Javier, Angelito Malabanan, and Rolando Lachica – through the assistance of University of the Philippines (UP) law professor Harry Roque. The complainants based their accusation on the 21-page report issued by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) that said the suspects were killed not in an encounter but in a rubout. Charged were Police Superintendents Gilbert G. Sauro, Marcellano S. Villafranca, and Omega Jireh Fidel; Colonel David Quimio, Senior Inspectors Ricardo I. Dalamcia and Leovino U. Ricablanca; Senior Police Officers 3 Segundo G. Binay and Narciso M. Aamante; Senior Police Officers 2 Rogelio L. Candelaria Jr. and Leo V. Morcilla; Senior Police Officers 1 Gaudencio C. Magsumbol, Angelito N. Dizon, Antonio V. Paombong, Jr., Roberto B. Opena, and Lauro O. Camitan; Police Officers 3 Romeo A. Panaligan, Adi Madlangbayan, Fernan B. Hernandez, Renie M. Malveda, Alexander Kim D. Sobrepeña and Richard A. Pinili; Police Officers 2 Roberto A. Godoy, Edwalberto M. Villas, Leonardo L. Aquino, Lyndon B. Herrera, Jimmy R. Roncal, Kelvin Bernas, Reynaldo U. Siringan, Jeffrey Luis C. Franca and Gilbert M. Molino; Police Officers 1 Camelo M. Casalme, Danilo V. Salvatierra, Jr., Michael G. Rebato, Dexter M. Caudilla, Bren V. Sumadsad, Ryan L. Upao, Victoniano P. Sanil, and Veniorito Lago. All of the accused were members of “Task Force RCBC,” the group formed to solve the robbery incident where 10 people, most of them employees of the bank, were killed. The respondents had earlier denied the accusations of a rubout, insisting that the suspects were killed in a firefight in Pagaspas village, Tanauan City in Batangas province last May 22, six days after the bloody heist. The CHR report said the suspects were not armed when the alleged shootout happened. The Philippine National Police (PNP), meanwhile, said that despite being “taken aback” by the filing of the complaints, they will treat it as an opportunity to prove the innocence of the involved cops. “We have complete faith in our justice system - that our policemen will be afforded due process and every fair opportunity to challenge the accusations and present evidence to prove their innocence,” said Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome, the PNP spokesman. - GMANews.TV