Murder raps vs Escalante City mayor

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental – Murder and frustrated murder charges were filed against Escalante City Mayor Melencio “Beboy” Yap Jr and 8 “conspirators” over the killings of and attacks against supporters of his political rival former Mayor Santiago “May-May” Barcelona.

In a joint complaint affidavit filed on Wednesday, April 17, relatives of victims accused Yap of masterminding the killings.

“We are victims of extrajudicial murders and frustrated murders in the City of Escalante which when taken in relation to each other reveal an unmistakable pattern and overall scheme and an obvious design which point to respondents as co-conspirators and perpetrators of these crimes,” reads the complaint. 

Murder charges were filed over the deaths of Ferjun Damalerio (2007), Armando Lutrago (2011), and Joseph Lutrago (2013). Frustrated murder were filed over the attacks against Fernando Damalerio (2007), Roger Agaton (2010), and Valentino Pabon (2009).

Luke Espiritu, counsel of the victims’ kin, said up to 28 murders were committed since 2007. He said a second batch of complaints will be filed.

“It’s not a simple murder of one person. We can see that it is systematic. We have up to 28 victims. And it so happened all the victims come from the camp of the rival of incumbent Mayor Biboy Yap of Escalante,” said Luke Espiritu, counsel of the victims’ kin. “Sa kampo ni Biboy yap, walang namamatay. Pero dun sa kabilang kampo, ang daming namamtay. Ito ay mga lider, volunteers, at simple supporters, ” Espiritu added.

Yap has 8 co-accused: retired Major Arthur Tupas, Yap’s executive assistant Angel Sinadjan, Joel Villarin, Joel Plomo, village captain Juanito Gregorio, Rolando Catayas, Domingo Katipunan, and Richard Patpat. They allegedly “conspired, confederated, confabulated, and helping each other, did then and there, willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously participated in the commission of the above mentioned crime,” said the complaint.

The Visayan Daily Star reported that Yap welcomed the charges “so that he can clear his name in the proper forum.” It reported that Yap will file counter-charges against “those fabricating accusations against him.”

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) in 2011 suspended Yap’s administrative and operational control over the city police. It was a result of a probe led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government – then under the late Jesse Robredo – which reportedly concluded that “Mayor Melecio Yap indeed has a close association with the rebel communist group before he assumed his position as mayor of Escalante City.”

Espiritu said the Escalante police have been “covering up” the killings by simply dismissing them as incidents perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA). “Kapag ganoon, tapos na usapan. Sa tingin ko, cover up ‘yan. Hindi man lang nag-imbestiga. Ginawang scapegoat ang NPA. Tapos case closed na. Hindi pwede yan,” he said. 

According to the complaint, both Damalerios were known allies of Barcelona. Agaton is one of Barcelona’s sitio leader while Armando Lutrago is a security aide of Barcelona.

Joseph Lutrago is a police asset in Escalante City. He was killed with Escalante cop Benjie Tanguan on April 1. Police said they were killed by NPA hitmen.

All 5 incidents were related, the complainants said.

Negros Occidental Gov Alfredo Marañon Jr has been supportive of the victims’ kin. He cited the Escalante killings as one of the reasons to justify his earlier call to put the province under the control of the Commission on Elections. He has since withdrawn his call. 

“The Escalante extra-judicial killings are worse than the Ampatuan case in Maguindanao. The Ampatuan case is only one incident. Killings in Escalante have been happening since 2007,” Marañon said. – Rappler.com