ROXAS CITY – Capiz Governor Victor Tanco Sr., Capiz Police Director Domingo Cabillan and several others are facing charges before the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas for alleged unlawful arrest, bribery and graft and corrupt practices.

Complainants are Renato Lago and his nephew and wife, Jerson Magallanes and Ofelia Lago of Barangay Tumalud, Mambusao, Capiz.

Renato and Jerson works for Kriskat Venture, a construction firm owned Engr. Leodigario Labao Jr. of Balijuagan, Roxas City.

The three complained of alleged unlawful arrest under Article 269 of the Revised Penal Code, bribery under Article 20 of the RPC, and violation of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Meanwhile, others accused are Inspectors Dennis Sumaliling and Joel Cambi, P03 Gary Diaz, Senior Inspector Alcer Monsera, SP04 Wilfredo Venus, Jr., SP02 Rey Jason Gimeno, SP02 Mark Garcia, SP01 Rey Molas, P03 Tomas Obligar and P02 Christopher Dinglasan, all of Capiz Provincial Police Office.

ACCUSATIONS

In their separate sworn affidavits, Lago and Magallanes said they were taken by the police, allegedly led by Cabillan, while working at around 2 p.m. of May 4 in Brgy. Dacal, San Enrique, Iloilo for questioning on their alleged knowledge in the killing of Mambusao Vice Mayor Abel Martinez.

The two said they were held under custody and allegedly warned not to escape lest they want to get hurt.

Further, the two alleged that they were separately brought to Loctugan Hills in this city and were interrogated on their alleged participation in the killing of the Mambusao vice mayor.

Their affidavits said the police allegedly failed to inform them of their Miranda rights.

Lago alleged that an interrogating officer pointed a revolver at him and made him sign a written statement without him knowing its contents because he just wanted to go home.

On May 5, the complainants said they were brought to Iloilo City where they boarded a ferry-bound to Bacolod City. The two alleged that they were to be presented to DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas but did not see the latter.

The two claimed they were returned to Iloilo City where they met with Cambi and Tanco and were allegedly given P30,000 for their budget.

Then, the two were brought back to Loctugan Hills where they signed some documents.

After signing, they said they were brought to Mambusao Police Station and were made to sign a police blotter entry dictated by Cambi.

Meanwhile, Ofelia said in her affidavit that her husband and nephew were taken for questioning without warrant of arrest.

She claimed that she visited the two at Loctugan Hills but was refused entry by a certain Police Officer Ochavo as allegedly ordered by Cabillan.

The three filed their complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas at Cebu City through lawyers Retired Judge Roger Patricio, Myra Yngcong, Vicente Atlas Catalan, Leodigario Dadivas Jr. and Roy Villa.

Meanwhile, The News Today tried to reach Tanco, Cabillan and other police officers involved for comment but to no avail.

Earlier, Chief Superintendent Cipriano Querol Jr., chief, Police Regional Office 6, said that investigators are eyeing politics as one of the possible motives in the killing of Martinez last May 4.

Querol confirmed that the sworn affidavit of Lago and Magallanes matched with the statement given by "Alias Junjun," houseboy of the Martinez family and the lone witness to the incident.

Noting the age of the vice mayor and his being a strong contender in the 2013 elections, Querol said that they "do not see any possible motive for his killing, except politics."

Kirskat Ventures is the contractor of the ongoing rehabilitation project of the Mambusao public plaza, which was opposed by the slain vice mayor.

Labao has also announced earlier that he will run for mayor in the mid-term election next year.

INVESTIGATION

The investigation revealed that the said engineer allegedly instructed the foreman identified as Cornelio Bautista to look for a place in Mambusao to accommodate four men from Iloilo.

Bautista then allegedly contacted Lago. It was also discovered that prior to the incident, the four men tagged for the killing of Martinez stayed for almost three weeks at the house of Lago's mother.

A hot pursuit operation was already conducted for the arrest of the said foreman.

However, the said engineer denied any involvement in the crime.

A total of P900,000 is up for reward for the capture of Martinez' assassins; of which, half a million came from the provincial government and DOTC, P100,000 from the city government, P100,000 from Labao and P200,000 from the local government of Mambusao.*