Charges against suspect in store mauling blocked

CEBU, Philippines -  The National Bureau of Investigation-7 will continue its investigation into the death of an alleged shoplifter despite the arrest of Gaisano Metro Colon CCTV camera operator Jeffrey Aquino by the PNP who have held him responsible for the incident.

Aquino was supposed to be charged yesterday before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office but it was blocked by the family of the victim.

Regional Director Antonio Pagatpat told the media that the PNP did not inform them of their investigation.

“They did not inform our office,” he said, adding that he will not comment on the investigation conducted by the PNP and the arrest of Aquino.

However, he said if the PNP will file a complaint against Aquino, most probably that complaint and theirs will be consolidated by the Prosecutor’s Office.

The NBI is investigating the case upon the request of the family of the victim, Mario Alfie Ducayag, a resident of Tuyan, Naga City, Cebu.

Blocked

The family of the victim blocked the filing of charges against Aquino. Fe Soledad and Marie Shantylle, the victim’s mother and sister, respectively, said earlier that day they asked Cebu Intelligence Branch Chief Insp. Romeo Santander and Cebu City Police Office Director Mariano Natuel Jr. not to file the complaint.

However, they said late afternoon yesterday, they were surprised why the police still tried to file the case. They said if the police are worried about facing a case for illegal detention then they can release Aquino.

The two said that they wanted the NBI to file the complaint not just against Aquino but also against the others who also allegedly mauled the victim.

They added what they protested was the fact that the persons who executed affidavits before the PNP were also involved based on the investigation conducted by the NBI.

“Gusto namu dili lang si Aquino ang filan ang tanan na,” they said.

The PNP arrested Aquino after chief security Mauricio Doblados and the detective security agent Melvin Boyles said he was the one who mauled and killed Ducayag.

But Marie Shantylle said they she believe that Doblados and Boyles were also involved in the crime.

“We won’t rely on their statements kay they were co-accused and definitely they were at the office,” she said.

Marie Shantylle added they respect CCPO’s credibility but they want the NBI to file the case against the suspects.

But CCPO director Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el Jr., said that Doblados and Boyles are not excluded in the crime yet as they have yet to determine if the two could be accessories to the crime.

He said that affidavits of Doblados and Boyles are intended only for the filing of case against Aquino.

Aquino refused to issue any statement.

Opinion

Fe Soledad and Marie Shantylle yesterday went to the Office of the Assistant City Prosecutor Llena Ipong-Avila, who heads the witness protection program of the Department of Justice. The two said they wanted the other witnesses placed under protection.

They said they will also be filing a complaint against PNP medico-legal officer Nestor Sator based on his finding that the victim died of asphyxia due to bleeding pulmonary tuberculosis, contrary to the findings of the NBI medico-legal officer Rene Cam that he died due to traumatic nape injury.

Meanwhile, Avila also said the arrest of Aquino cannot be called a hot pursuit operation as it happened two weeks after the incident last April 12. She also appealed to the law enforcement to have a proper case build-up.

“Their output is our input,” she said.

Last April 21 Marie Shantylle said store manager May Sasido and others went to their house to give assistance but they refused to let them in. Aside from that, she said her mother received calls from an unknown number four to five times.

In a press statement, the Metro Retail Group commended the authorities for their swift and coordinated action in pursuing significant leads that led to the arrest of Aquino.

Cerwin Eviota, spokesperson of the Metro Department Store and Supermarket, said they looking at the NBI and PNP as the same authority and whatever the investigation may be, the suspects should face appropriate charges.

“Hope mahuman na ni, it does not matter if Aquino lang ang na-arrested but to determine others kay daghan man gud ug claims and counter-claims,” Eviota said in a press conference.

Eviota further said they want the authorities to dig deeper into the case to get a full picture of the whole incident and bring those responsible to justice, and clear the names of those who had nothing to do with the incident.

“What matter to us is to find the truth,” he said. —/BRP (FREEMAN)