Police insist Chong aide Richard Santillan killed in shootout

The police on Monday insisted that Richard Santillan, aide of former Biliran Representative Glenn Chong, was killed in a legitimate anti-crime operation in Cainta, Rizal, last year.

Superintendent Joseph Arguelles of Police Regional Office 4-A also denied the allegations of Chong that Santillan was kidnapped, tortured, and killed.

“He (Chong) alleged that there was no shootout that transpired. For us, indeed it was a shootout. Evidence shows two bullet holes were sustained in the front bumper of the SWAT mobile of Cainta police station,” he said during the Senate public order and dangerous drugs hearing on political killings.

He said the result of trajectory of bullets from the Rizal provincial crime laboratory office showed that Santillan was moving from the driver side to the passenger side of the vehicle while the firefight was ongoing.

“He was able to fire shots while outside the vehicle where he eventually died,” Arguelles said.

Police earlier said Santillan was a member of Highway Boys Group allegedly involved in illegal drugs and car theft in Rizal.

Santillan’s vehicle, a Fortuner, allegedly sped off even after it was flagged down by the Highway Patrol Group in Cainta.

Chong claimed that Santillan was killed to threaten him.

“Pinatay si Richard para pitikin ako. Akala nila matatakot nila ako,” he said during the hearing.

Before the hearing ended, Senator Panfilo Lacson told the PNP to cooperate with the National Bureau of Investigation in looking into Santillan's death. —KBK, GMA News