More raps filed vs. 'Tokhang' cops in Payatas ops

Relatives of the drug suspects killed in a police operation in Payatas, Quezon City, last August have filed criminal and administrative complaints against the four policemen involved before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Maria Belen Daa, Lydia Gabo, and Marilyn Malimban filed complaints against Senior Inspector Emil Garcia, PO3 Allan Formilleza, PO1 James Aggarao and PO1 Melchor Navisaga for four counts of murder, one count of frustrated murder and one count of robbery on Thursday.

The police officers were also charged for violating Section 28 in relation to Section 3 of RA 9165 for allegedly planting drugs on the suspects and Section 38 of RA 10591 for allegedly planting illegal firearms.

Daa is the mother of Marcelo "Nonoy" Daa Jr., while Gabo is the mother of Rhaffy Gabo. Malimban, on the other hand, is the widow of Jessie Cule.

Before them, the lone survivor in the operation, Efren Morillo, has filed complaints against the four policemen.

In their complaints, the relatives insisted that the victims were neither drug users nor pushers.

"Lubos ko itong ikinagagalit. Hindi drug user o pusher si Nonoy. Magkasama kaming nakatira sa bahay at walang makikitang gamit na pang-droga sa amin. Siya ay isang basurero na maliit lamang ang kinikita," said Maria Belen Daa.

Informants identified as Lea Barcelona, Lorie Barcelona, Mary Joy Ralo, Richard Riñon and another man known by his alias "Manok" were also included in the complaint for allegedly telling policemen that the victims were drug pushers and for disclosing their whereabouts.

According to the complainants, the victims, including Anthony Comendo, were "mercilessly" shot on August 21 by the respondent policemen in an anti-drug operation dubbed Oplan Tokhang.

Morillo, meanwhile, was able to survive through immediate first aid treatment despite suffering grave injury on his chest.

The Supreme Court in January issued a writ of amparo to Morillo and the relatives of the victims to protect them from alleged police harassment. 

The Court of Appeals in February made permanent their temporary protection order. It also ordered the reassignment of the respondents to police stations outside Quezon City and Montalban, Rizal. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/KBK, GMA News