Cops file murder raps against retired soldier

CEBU, Philippines – The police yesterday filed murder charge against the former Army Scout Ranger who was arrested last February 28 in connection with the killing of convenience store owner Lalaine Oliver Jore on Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City last February 17.

Elements of the Cebu City Police Office led by Senior Insp. George Ylanan and together with some seven members of the Special Weapons and Tactics team escorted Filomeno Amistad to the Regional Trial Court where the murder charge was filed. No bail was recommended for the temporary liberty of the suspect.

Amistad was reportedly the man caught in a video footage from a security camera installed inside the convenience store and internet café owned by Jore at Krizia Building along Gorordo Avenue.

The accused, however, denied any hand in the brutal killing of Jore, 34, who was shot several times while manning her store that fateful night.

The recently retired soldier said he could not have been the man caught by the camera because he was in Manila at the time to process his retirement benefits.

Police believed Amistad and the two other suspects in the Jore killing are professional hitmen although they have not yet determined their links to any other similar jobs.

Investigators have considered the killing of Jore as business related although they have not ruled out other angles.

In her affidavit, Louella, a sister of Jore, identified Amistad as the one who first shot the victim twice.

The witness also told police that Amistad uttered “Tiwasi!” after shooting Jore to his companion, who also shot the victim twice that led to her death.

The suspects then got out of the establishment and fled with their waiting companion, leaving the cashier unharmed, and the day’s sales intact.

CCPO director Patrocinio Comendador Jr., yesterday said although they have already the identity of the suspected mastermind of the crime, they do not have enough evidences to directly link the said person to the killing of Jore.

Comendador explained the descriptions of the potential mastermind are all “theories” only.

Ylanan, chief of Investigation and Detective Management Branch of CCPO, earlier said that the identity of the mastermind was already possible though they opted not to divulge it yet because an ongoing investigation is still being conducted.

Comendador said that the same “mastermind” hired Amistad to carry out the crime. “Yes, he (Amistad) was working for the mastermind long before he retired from the service,” he added.

At present, Comendador said they are still in the process of building up the case. He said the motive of the incident “evolves to the personal life of Jore.”

Amistad, a former Army Scout Ranger, was arrested by teams from CCPO last Saturday afternoon in Poblacion III, Carcar City.

Comendador said that their strongest basis for Amistad’s arrest is the positive identification of two witnesses who instructed the police to arrest him immediately after identifying him while they were concealed in a tinted vehicle parked near the suspect’s residence.

The CCPO chief, who pointed out that the CCPO does not have grudges against Amistad, revealed the suspect has no criminal record before the crime was allegedly perpetrated.

He also said that the face of the man filmed by a security camera inside the convenience store is not clear though his cheekbones, ears, and lips matched with those of Amistad’s.

Comendador also defended his men, saying the arrest of Amistad was anchored on a hot pursuit operation. — Jasmin R. Uy and Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/WAB (THE FREEMAN)