SHOOTOUT OR RUBOUT?

RIDDLED The bloodied remains of Samuel Cioco, Hino Balacutan and Gerald Emaas after they were peppered with bullets. (FAA photo)

Cops pepper suspected robbers with bullets

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

DID members of the Regional Intelligence Office (RIO-6) use reasonable force in neutralizing three suspected robbers Wednesday evening in a gasoline station in Iloilo City proper district?

Were the RIO operatives tailing the trio before the shootout or was it a chance encounter?

These questions beg for answers following the shooting to death of Samuel Cioco, Hino Balacutan and Gerald Emaas at the Santos Shell gas station at the corner of Jalandoni-Delgado Streets, Iloilo City.

Based on identification papers recovered from the slain trio, Cioco was a native of Balud, Masbate while Emaas was from Brgy. Luy-a, Aroroy also in Masbate.

Balacutan was reported as a resident of Brgy. Cagay, Roxas City but Punong Barangay Arturo Aragon said over Bombo Radyo yesterday that the former did not live there.

The incident has several versions particularly on the circumstances that led to the shooting.

Supt. Samuel Nacion, RIO-6 chief, said they were refueling their white Nissan car when they heard a gunshot near the Gusteau coffee shop inside the gas station.

Nacion said he alighted from the car and confronted the trio by introducing himself as a police officer.

But instead of heeding him, Nacion said one of the three persons shot him while another drew something from his pocket.

Upon hearing the second gunfire, the rest of the RIO operatives shot the trio who sought cover in a blue Honda Civic car right in front the coffee shop.

Nacion’s team was positioned in front of Cioco and company while the group of Supt. Sofronio Fusin group fired at the victims from the left portion of the gas station.

When the gunshots ceased, the bloodied Cioco, Emaas and Balacutan were seen crumpled together in front of the Civic car with plate number FEY-368.

A video footage by GMA TV-6 Iloilo showed RIO operatives shooting the victims even if they were already lying still on the pavement. This particular scene prompted some media practitioners present to claim that it was overkill.

But Nacion said they only defended themselves as one of the fatalities was holding a grenade. He said they only acted on suspicion that the trio might rob the gasoline station.

SPO4 Rafael Managuit and SPO1 Johnny Menesis of the Explosive and Ordnance Division said they recovered an M26-A1 fragmentation hand grenade from the scene.

The grenade’s safety lever was already missing, Managuit said.

Reports gathered by the media from other police officers at the scene said the RIO-6 team was tailing Cioco, Emaas and Balacutan after they were linked to a robbery-holdup gang.

Senior Supt. Bartolome Tobias, Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director, said RIO-6 was indeed conducting surveillance operations in the vicinity “but the fatalities were not their target.”

“I believe that this was a legitimate shootout because these three persons first shot the RIO-6 operatives. Our officers only defended themselves because of the presence of the grenade. Plus, the scene of incident was a gasoline station and if the grenade detonated, the fuel depot could have exploded also, causing more damage and injuries,” Tobias said.

Tobias said the RIO-6 had expressed intention to help the ICPO’s anti-crime drive by conducting surveillance operations “and this is one of the results of their help.”

So far, the media is dependent on the police as to the details of the incident. Since all the victims were killed, who can give their version of the incident?

OUTGUNNED

The guns and ammunitions found by the Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) show that Cioco and his group were outnumbered and outgunned.

Coco investigators recovered from the trio a caliber .38 revolver, a caliber .380 pistol and the hand grenade. Also recovered from them were nine caliber .38 live bullets, five caliber .380 live bullets and three spent shells of caliber .380 bullets.

The recoveries from the area where the RIO-6 members were positioned included 39 spent shells of caliber .45 bullets, 12 spent shells of 9mm bullets and 2 live caliber .45 ammunitions.

Based on the initial police investigations, Cioco, Emaas and Balacutan succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in their head, chest, back, arms and abdomen. The medico legal officer is set to autopsy the remains of three persons.

Based on initial information from Masbate, Emaas was a former communist rebel who later joined the military’s Citizen’s Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu). He was even hailed as an outstanding Cafgu member. In fact, Emaas was identified through the Cafgu ID guard found in his body. A councilor later hired Emaas as a personal bodyguard.

Emaas had pending criminal cases for illegal possession of explosives and homicide.

Senior Supt. Tobias said they will gather more information from Masbate and Roxas to verify the backgrounds of Cioco and Balacutan.

WARNING

Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said the shooting incident should dissuade criminals from operating in the metropolis.

Treñas said new communication facilities donated to the city police office helped the cops subdue the suspected robbers.

The mayor said there have been recent sightings of alleged robbers in the city “but our police officers are prepared to prevent them from committing crimes.”

VERY IMPORTANT PRISONER

Dennis Cartagena

Special treatment for Cartagena

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

A 24-hour security detail. A special cook. ‘Private’ sleeping quarters.

What more can the prime suspect in the death of Ajuy vice mayor Ramon Rojas ask for inside the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC)?

Dennis “Totong” Cartagena is getting special treatment inside the IRC to secure him from persons who want to silence him.

According to Senior Supt. Ricardo dela Paz, concurrent IRC warden, Cartagena is isolated inside his own cell, apart from other inmates.

Instead of the regular IRC jailguards, members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team guard Cartagena on a round-the-clock basis.

And to prevent attempts to poison him while in detention, a special cook prepares Cartagena’s meals.

Apparently, other inmates have no qualms about Cartagena’s “privileged” standing inside the IRC since he returned from Butuan City where he and fellow suspect Edgar Cordero hid after allegedly assassinating Rojas in May.

Cordero, who is believed to be Rojas’ triggerman, was shot to death in Butuan City allegedly by Lindsey Buenavista and Jose Bahadi.

Buenavista was also tagged in the Rojas slay case along with alleged mastermind Vicente “Etik” Espinosa but they were exonerated by the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutors for lack of evidence.

The prosecutor’s resolution is now under review by the Department of Justice.

In his affidavit, Cartagena, who drove the getaway motorcycle used in Rojas’ killing, again implicated Buenavista and Espinosa to the assassination plot.

After confessing to the crime, Cartagena has been heavily guarded by the Iloilo Provincial Police Office until he testifies before the court.

Dela Paz said he approved the special arrangement for Cartagena to ensure his safety inside the IRC.

Provincial Attorney’s Office assistant regional director Jose Edmund Guillen earlier said Cartagena could turn state witness depending on the decision of the prosecution should the case is elevated to the Regional Trial Court.