Police clear man from gang ties

Policemen cleared retired Sgt. Henry Comandao, who drove the Hyundai van ferrying suspected members of a swindling group that was ambushed last Monday, from involvement in the group after his family came yesterday afternoon out to clear his name.

His wife, who refused to be named for security reasons, expressed her anger at the many speculations thrown at her husband, especially when she heard in the radio that her husband was the “protector” of Magno.

She said her husband, who is still fighting for his life in the hospital, is wrongfully accused for alleged involvement in the gang of Jose Mecias Magno, his wife Evelyn Magno and Medase Castro who were gunned down.

She said she cannot believe that her husband is being accused of something like this and fears that people who do not know them might believe anything they hear.

 Mrs. Comandao said her husband never knew his passengers based on his text messages sent to Evelyn Magno, who was said to be the contact person he would look for once he arrived in the Capitol Monday morning.

 “How do I recognize you when I fetch you tomorrow at about 8:30am?” his text read.

She claimed that her husband met the Magnos after their godson, who works with the law firm that assisted Magno and Castro in posting bail, asked him to ferry his clients.  The godson was also present during the visit to the police yesterday.

The godson was reportedly asked by Evelyn Magno to find a vehicle to ferry her husband and Castro after they are released from the City Jail because Evelyn said she feared something might happen to them.

Magno reportedly paid P2,000 as payment for the transportation after he confirmed to them that the passengers to be ferried are not suspects of robbery.

“Kay basig madamay ta,” the godson joked. He told the police that he only knew his clients were charged with estafa and swindling.

The Comandao’s reportedly do not use the van for hire except when close family relatives and other close friends ask to use it.

The Comandao’s family demanded to clear the name of the head of their family.

“Whatever destruction, dapat i-restore three times,” the wife said.

Senior Insp. Mario Monilar of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office, upon hearing the testimonies and seeing the text messages presented to them, told reporters that Comandao has been cleared from the investigation.

 Monilar also said that since the motives are very broad, considering the background of the victims and one way to confirm any information is through their relatives and associates.  As of yesterday, no relatives visited the Magno couple at the Saint Francis Funeral Homes and Castro whose body remains at the Perpetual Succour Hospital.

Meanwhile, police have recovered the SIM pack of Magno that allegedly contained threats from his swindling group.

“Patuloy nyo lahat gawain nyo kontak ko na ang mga tauhan ng uncle ko c Duterte, magtago na kayo dahil ang dami na ninyong niloko kahit pulis pa ang kap...” one text read.

Another text received April 30 says: “Hi, kumusta hurot na ang inyong kita? Grabeha gyud ninyo nakailad, karma ra ang inyo naghulat c Satanas mga demonyo mong dagko may adlaw ra mo tanan mahurot mo kamatay wa matulog ang Ginoo I hope mahitabo sa inyong mga anak inyo gibuhat, paghapihapi mo hapit na inyo oras, padung namo sementeryo tanan andam nalang mo daan.”

A third message also threatened the group by saying: “ang galing nyo. Talagang manloloko, lintik lang ang walang ganti maubos rin kayo lahat magtago kayo kahit saan.”

Cebu City Police Office Chief Patrocinio Commendador clarified that the sender may not necessarily be the suspect but could be used as a guide to know the true motive of the ambush.

 Police theorize three possible motives: the alleged bickering between members of the group due to unfair division of loot based on the information they received from the Davao police; revenge from their past victims and finally the so-called vigilantes.

According to Comendador at least seven victims appeared in their office since February 5 to May 8 and identified the suspects as the one who duped them of their money and valuables, some of them lost nearly a million cash and valuables.

During an interview with Theft and Robbery Section chief Sr. Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes, he mentioned that a person named “Raffy” called Magno’s number and asked where he would send the money because he was in “Ibabao.”

Bastes clarified that “Ibabao” meant Luzon, which would further validates the scope of Magno’s alleged swindling group.  Bastes believed that “Raffy” was Magno’s new contact in Manila.

Police also believe that the group has local contacts and financiers here. -Edwin Ian Melecio with Trex Eden Ignacio, UP Intern/BRP