7 cops tagged in killing of Calbayog mayor Aquino under restrictive custody —Eleazar

The seven policemen tagged as suspects in the killing of Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino and his companions are now under restrictive custody, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar on Friday.

In a statement, Eleazar said the policemen will be under the custody of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) and Police Regional Office 8 while investigation is ongoing

“I also directed the Regional Director, Police Regional Office 8 and Director, Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) to place implicated PNP personnel under their restrictive custody,” he said.

Eleazar made the directive after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday filed complaints for murder and frustrated murder against nine individuals, including the seven policemen, before the Department of Justice.

Eleazar said the filing of complaints is a welcome development.

According to Eleazar, the PNP will not shield the seven police personnel from the murder and frustrated murder complaints filed against them. He pointed out that their organization is also seeking justice from the investigation as some of its personnel were also killed in the incident.

“But in the meantime, let these cases take their course in the proper forum,” Eleazar said.

Aquino and his companions were shot to death on Laboyao Bridge in Barangay Lonoy in March.

According to PNP, a whistleblower, Police Master Sergeant Jose Jay Scenario, claimed that Aquino’s political rival had coordinated with PNP personnel to obtain a search warrant against the mayor.

Aside from this, he said that this personality asked the cops to tag the mayor as the protector of a policeman involved in the illegal drug trade.

According to Scenario, the ambush on the mayor had long been planned.

The police previously claimed that they were forced to return fire after the mayor’s bodyguards began shooting them. But CCTV footage shows that the police officers tailed the mayor for 17 minutes before his death.

After the shooting, the white pick-up that jostled the mayor’s car was seen being followed by a black SUV. The suspects were then caught on video placing guns inside the vehicle.

“As to the CCTV, it will tell us that this is not just a chance encounter, but as I said a premeditated one. That’s why the report… was it was an ambush,” said NBI Deputy Director for Regional Services Atty. Antonio Pagatpat.

Mansfield Labonite, the lone survivor in the incident and Aquino's assistant, said the policemen fired at them first. —KBK, GMA News