Murder charges recommended for Bacoor cops in election day shooting

A Department of Justice (DOJ) panel has found probable cause to prosecute for murder 14 Cavite policemen for the killing of two security aides of former Bacoor Rep. Plaridel Abaya during the May 10, 2010 elections. In a 27-page resolution promulgated on Tuesday, April 5, the DOJ recommended the filing of two counts of murder against the following policemen from the Bacoor Municipal Police Station (BMPS):

• Superintendent Ramil Montilla, police station head,
• Chief Inspector Christopher Olazo,
• SPO4 Jimmy Narag,
• SPO2 Ariel Panganiban,
• PO3 Domingo Garcia,
• PO3 Salvador Cesma,
• PO2 Bobby Zamora,
• PO2 Renato Bayot,
• PO1 Rafael Rodriguez,
• PO2 Alvin Sinko,
• SPO1 Rodolfo Arboleda,
• PO3 Ronan Musni,
• PO2 Bienvenido Rosas, and
• PO2 Richard Fermil.

Four others — former Cavite provincial police head Senior Superintendent Primitivo Tabujara Jr., SPO1 Ricardo Trinidad Poblete, SP01 Janelito Constante Dinglasan, and PO2 Wilfredo Angeles Casalme, all Montilla's subordinates — are also set to be charged. The DOJ, however, junked for lack of merit other charges of frustrated murder, incriminatory machinations, robbery, slight physical injuries and maltreatment of prisoners that Abaya’s camp filed against the policemen. The DOJ also dismissed all the counter-charges of robbery with homicide, frustrated homicide, direct assault, election law violation and illegal possession of firearms filed by respondent policemen against Abaya’s camp. GMA News Online tried to reach incumbent Cavite provincial police chief Danilo Maligalig to ask for his comment on his subordinates, but he could not be contacted as of posting time. The DOJ pinned the blame on the policemen for the shooting of retired Marine colonel Arnulfo Obillos and Juanito Paraiso, Abaya’s security aides. The panel, however, did not categorically say who exactly shot the victims. Abaya was the Liberal Party’s bet in the congressional race in the lone district of Bacoor. He lost to Lakas-Kampi-CMD bet Lani Mercado-Revilla, wife of Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla. “There is no question that [Obillos and Paraiso] were shot by the police officers. In fact, two of them, namely, police Chief Inspector Christopher Olazo and SPO2 Ariel Panganiban tested positive for the presence of gunpowder nitrates as indicated in Chemistry Report No. C-025-10 dated May 11, 2010 of the Cavite Provincial Crime Laboratory Office," read a portion of the DOJ resolution. Assistant State Prosecutor Stuart Mariano, Assistant State Prosecutor Arnold Magpantay, and Prosecution Attorney Benjamin Samson conducted the DOJ preliminary investigation on the murder complaint against the policemen. Shootout or rubout? The Bacoor policemen had claimed that they were forced to retaliate after Abaya’s men allegedly fired at the police station. But a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) medico-legal report submitted by Abaya’s camp indicated that Obillos was shot at close range while Paraiso suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the head and different parts of his body. The two also tested negative for gunpowder nitrates, which could mean they didn’t fire their guns. The DOJ panel gave weight to the testimonies of Abaya, Obillos’ son Neil, and Lauro Geronino Jr., who all witnessed the incident. The witnesses said a heated argument between Abaya’s security aides and the Bacoor police followed after Abaya’s men tried to prevent three Bacoor policemen from using their firearms. Gunshots were then heard at the height of the altercation. Citing the testimony of Neil Obillos, the DOJ described how the latter may have been killed: “Neil Obillos further mentioned that when he and his father, Arnulfo Obillos, moved away from the jeep, they lied face down on the pavement and placed their hands behind their heads. Then, the police officers swarmed at them and pulled them from the ground, and repeatedly punched and kicked them “Subsequently, a police officer who stood in front of him shot him in the arm. The second shot hit his leg, after which he collapsed to the ground. Neil Obillos survived, but his father did not." A video taken during the altercation was aired and reported by GMA News last year:
Arbitrary detention and other charges After the shooting incident, Abaya and his men were brought to the Cavite Provincial Police Station where they were detained for 29 hours. In its resolution, the DOJ said there was sufficient evidence to indict the 14 policemen for illegal detention. — KBK, GMA News