NBI summons 15 cops linked to Ozamiz slays

MANILA, Philippines - Fifteen policemen, including a chief superintendent and a superintendent, were summoned to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after they were implicated in the deaths of Ozamiz gang leader Ricky Cadavero and his henchman Wilfredo Panogalinga.

Summoned were Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, former Calabarzon police director, and Superintendent Danilo Mendoza, Regional Special Operations commander, and the policemen who escorted Cadavero and Panogalinga when they were ambushed in San Antonio, San Pedro, Laguna.

These policemen are Senior Inspectors Manuel Magat and Fernando Cardona; Inspector Efren Oco; Senior Police Officers 1 Joseph Ortega and Jayson Semacas; Police Officers 3 Sherwin Bulan, Ramil Gonzales, Marvin Mejia, and Eduardo Cruz; Police Officers 2 Conrado Bautista, Exiel Reyes, and Kristofferson Reyes; and Police Officer 1 Ryan Rey Gado.

An NBI agent told The STAR failure of any of the policemen to appear would mean waiving the right to be heard.

“I don’t think that would do them any good,” the agent said.

Two police units investigating the alleged rubout had come out with “conflicting” reports.

The San Pedro police has issued a spot report that Cadavero and Panogalinga grabbed the gun of their escorts and “shot them with the same.” – Aie Balagtas See, Edu Punay