Fiscals ok murder raps vs. Pigon in Illustrisimo slay

The City Prosecutor’s Office has recommended the filing of murder charges against former policeman Ranulfo Pigon for the shooting of Sta. Fe mayoralty bet Rogelio Illustrisimo last May.

City prosecution chief Nicolas Sellon has approved the findings of prosecutor Marla Barcenilla that sufficient grounds exist “to establish the commission of the crime of murder and that respondent Arnulfo Pigon, Jr. is probably responsible therefore.”

Pigon has been given 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration on the prosecutor’s findings.

The office, however, cleared from charges Pigon’s co-respondent, Domingo Zaspa, Illustrisimo’s political rival.  Zaspa was suspected to have masterminded the shooting after he ran away from the crime scene and after he was allegedly seen talking with Pigon in a popular uptown hotel shortly after the shooting.

Illustrisimo was shot outside the provincial Commission on Elections office shortly before noon last May 2 shortly after the hearing of the disqualification case Zaspa filed against him.

Barcenilla said it was only logical for Zaspa to be within the Comelec and Capitol premises because he attended the same hearing.  While Zaspa admitted running away from the crime scene, Barcenilla said the same was but a “likely reaction” because a commotion had occurred.

“The theory proffered by the complainant that Zaspa conspired and connived with respondent Pigon, Jr. has no sufficient basis to warrant a belief that Zaspa was in any way involved in fatally shooting Mr. Illustrisimo.  Indeed, Zaspa was seen in the vicinity of the crime scene and was a known adversary of the victim, but the connection and/or association shared by Zaspa and Pigon, Jr. has not been ably substantiated by the allegations of the complainant,” Barcenilla said.

In indicting Pigon to the murder charge, Barcenilla said the former policeman’s alibi of reportedly being in Cupang, Antipolo, on the day of the shooting cannot prevail over the positive identification made by the “disinterested witnesses” who were not inspired by ill-will or questionable motives to needlessly implicate Pigon to the crime.

At least three witnesses have allegedly identified Pigon as the assailant.

Citing a ruling of the Supreme Court, Barcenilla said alibi is the weakest of all defenses and cannot stand against strong and positive identification of witnesses.

Pigon, a former operative of the Special Weapons and Tactics team in Mandaue City, vehemently denied the allegations, alleging that the case is scripted and he was but a fall guy.

Pigon said it was impossible for him to be the gunman because he was in Antipolo City when the incident happened.  He also denied having met both Illustrisimo and Zaspa prior to the incident.

Zaspa, for his part, had said he could not be implicated just because he happened to be in the premises when Illustrisimo was shot. Zaspa contended that even if a person happens to be at the scene of the crime, his mere presence will not automatically make him a conspirator or direct participant in the crime.

The incident has prompted the provincial government to implement more stringent security measures at the Capitol grounds where the province’s legislative building and the Palace of Justice also prominently sit. 

Since the shooting, only private vehicles are allowed to enter the two main gates following a strict inspection by security guards.  — Joeberth M. Ocao/BRP