Sun.Star: Murder raps readied vs Davao solon over bet's slay

The National Bureau of Investigation has found enough evidence to charge a congressman and nine of his bodyguards for the killing of a mayoralty candidate and his son in Davao del Sur. Sun.Star Davao reported Monday that the NBI made this pronouncement as victims Isidro Sarmiento, 67, and son Danilo, 39, were laid to rest Sunday afternoon. It said NBI agents have launched a nationwide manhunt for the suspect. The elder Sarmiento was a candidate for mayor in Malita town. On the other hand, it also reported that gubernatorial bet and Davao del Sur Rep. Claude Bautista, who has been linked to the crime, is now believed to be in hiding. His bodyguards are reportedly missing as well. Sun.Star said the NBI was due to formally lodge double murder charges against Bautista and nine bodyguards before the office of the provincial prosecutor in Digos City. Also named in the charges were bodyguards Allan Estrada, "Sisi," "Arman Rellon," "Payat," "Palog Sarol," "Panday," "Ricky," "Norman," and Tito Alipaopao. Of the nine, Alipaopao was wounded and is now under police custody at the Limso Hospital in Davao City. Task Force Sarmiento is now conducting a manhunt against the suspects. The task force includes elements from the NBI, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO), and intelligence operatives of the Davao del Sur Provincial Police Office. Superintendent Jaime Pido, deputy provincial director and head of Task Force Sarmiento, is set to have an emergency conference at the regional police headquarters in Catitipan Monday to map out their plan of action. Meanwhile, the police said that following the relief of the Malita chief of police, Davao del Sur Police provincial director Senior Superintendent Anselmo Pinili will reportedly be axed as well due to his failure to take action on the armed groups of the Bautistas. Earlier, Malita police chief Senior Insp. Gabriel Luceñara was replaced by Chief Insp. Antonio Placido. Deputy regional director for operations Senior Superintendent Samuel Navaja said Pinili earlier reported to Police regional director Chief Superintendent Andres Caro II that politicians in Davao del Sur do not maintain any private army or armed goons. It was later found out that the fully armed bodyguards of Bautista are private armed men and not police or military personnel. Also, it was learned that after the May 16 incident, Bautista and his bodyguards even went to the Malita Police to report the incident. Meanwhile, Isidro and Danilo Sarmiento were finally laid to rest Sunday afternoon at their property in Felis, Malita around 1 p.m. Relatives and supporters of the Sarmientos paraded the victims' hearse in the Poblacion before proceeding with the burial. Several police and military personnel were on hand to secure the crowd from any attacks. - GMANews.TV