MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed murder complaints against two policemen who shot dead two Ozamiz gang leaders, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas announced on Thursday, July 25.

In a press briefing, Roxas said 14 other policemen face two separate criminal complaints in connection with the deaths of Ricky Cadavero and Wilfredo Panogalinga, who were killed in transit by their police escorts in Laguna in July 15.

The heads of the team that escorted the two criminals to Cavite on July 15 — Police Senior Inspector Manuel Magat and Police Inspector Efren Oco of the Regional Special Operations Group —face murder raps while Police Senior Insp Fernando Cardona and 11 others were charged with perjury.

Former RSOG IV-A Chief, Supt. Danilo Mendoza and 15 others were also indicted for Obstruction in the Prosecution of Criminal Offenders. Charged with an administrative case was the dismissed chief of Calabarzon IV-A, Chief Supt Benito Estipona.

The complaints were filed with the prosecutor office in Calamba, Laguna.

It was Estipona and Mendoza who reportedly ordered the two captured members of the notorious Ozamiz criminal gang to be brought to a police headquarters in Cavite, defying Philippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima’s orders to bring them straight to the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa.

These were the same officers earlier relieved from the police force following the killings on July 15.

The charges come after a fact-finding team led by Police Director Catalino S. Cuy submitted its report which included a sworn statement by a police officer who was part of the escort team. The witness has been placed under witness custody in Camp Crame.

“We will not spare anyone, we will not hide anything in this investigation,” Roxas said. “Everyone has a conscience. What’s important is [the witness] chose to come clean and tell the truth.”

The regional police’s original version of what happened was this: armed men on board motorcycles tried to rescue the two, who then reportedly grabbed the firearms of their escorts. This prompted other policemen to reportedly fire at their captives, killing them.

But on Tuesday, July 23, Purisima said that from the initial stages of the investigation, “it appears” that a “rubout” occurred.

Appeal to sister

Roxas also encouraged Cadavero’s sister Rose to cooperate with the police, vowing protection for her if she chose to do so. “If she comes directly to me, I myself will give her protection,” Roxas said.

Earlier, Rose accused the police of murdering her brother in cold blood, and defended her brother from allegations he was head of a robbery gang.

“My brother died a thief but he doesn’t even have any money to his name,” she said. “Who is benefitting from the supposed millions he had stolen? I have to pay for my brother’s burial. Where is the money they are saying he had taken?” – Rappler.com