20/11/2014
7 cops face murder, carnapping raps
MANILA - Seven police officers from Isabela province were charged with murder and carnapping before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday in connection with the killing of three men in Aurora town.
Charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division - Death Investigation Unit (AOTCD-DIU) were SPO1 Randolph Cauan, Sr. Insp. Sherwin Co**ha, Insp. Rey Lopez, SPO3 Julian Obrero III, PO2 Alex Abalos, PO2 Jose Soliven II, and PO2 Eduardo Apan.
Victims Johnny L. Bangit, Noel Lacuata Te-od, and Gabriel Dapio Ternio were arrested by these policemen last May 3 at the Aurora Public Market, Aurora, Isabela for alleged carnapping of a motorcycle with plate number 3297 BS. They were subsequently brought to the Aurora, Isabela PNP Office.
According to the complaint, the victims went missing thereafter. Their cadavers were later found in a shallow grave in a farm in Bgy. Bagong Tanza, Aurora, Isabela owned by one Bienvenido Abalos, father of PO2 Abalos, on June 2. They sustained gunshot wounds in the head.
As part of the complaint, the sworn statement of Jeffrey U. Asuncion, owner of the motorcycle, was submitted by the NBI as evidence.
Asuncion claimed that his motorcycle was stolen between 9 o'clock in the evening of April 30 up to 1 o'clock in the morning of May 1. He reported the matter to the police.
On May 3, he was informed by his relative that his motorcycle was spotted near the Aurora Public Market, which led him to proceed to the area.
Upon reaching the location, Asuncion claimed policemen prevented him from going near the motorcycle so that they would be able to arrest the alleged motorcycle thieves.
Asuncion said he saw the policemen arrest the victims, one of whom was about to board his motorcycle and the other two about to board a separate motorcycle.
Asuncion also claimed that he went to the police station to retrieve his motorcycle but was instructed by the policemen to just go home and await their call.
Asuncion also revealed that Aurora Mayor William Uy summoned him to the latter's house where the mayor and his administrative officer, Edna R. Salvador "instructed him not to tell anything about the arrest made by the Aurora Police Office on May 3, 2014 to the investigating officers of the [NBI], Ilagan District Office."
Uy allegedly provided him with a lawyer to "ensure that he will not tell the truth about the arrest."
The sworn statements of the relatives of the victims also formed part of the complaint where they claimed that the three were bound for Tabuk, Kalinga to sell corn and buy a motorcyle on the day they were last seen alive.
The affidavits of several other eye witnesses were attached to the complaint.
Also charged were Bienvenido Abalos, Mayor Uy, and Salvador for obstruction of justice.
The policemen also face carnapping charges for taking the motorcycle of the victims. The complaint states that the motorcycle was "nowhere to be found after it was brought to the custody of the Aurora Municipal Police Station."
Relatives of the victims, namely Jenevieve Te-od, Grail Ternio, and Marlyn Bangit also joined the NBI as complainants.
Via http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/11/04/14/7-cops-face-murder-carnapping-raps
