Task Force RCBC no-show in DOJ rubout probe

MANILA, Philippines - The 38 policemen who are accused of summarily executing three bank robbery suspects in Batangas last May did not show up during Thursday’s preliminary investigation at the Department of Justice (DOJ). A report from radio dzRH said only the policemen’s lawyer, Arturo de Castro, came to submit their counter-affidavits stressing that the suspects, Vivencio Javier, Angelito Malabanan, and Rolando Lachica, were killed in a legitimate operation. Javier, Malabanan and Lachica were tagged as suspects in the robbery-murder of 10 people in a Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) branch in Cabuyao, Laguna also last May. The radio report also said that Harry Roque Jr, counsel of the victims’ families, requested that the policemen be made to appear in the next hearings scheduled on October 2 and 9. Early this month, the families of the slain suspects filed a complaint before the DOJ through the assistance of Roque. The complaint was based on the findings by the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) that the suspects were killed in a rubout. The policemen, all members of Task Force RCBC, have belied that CHR findings, saying the suspects were killed in a firefight in Pagaspas village, Tanauan City in Batangas province last May 22. 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; and 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. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV