RPN-9 lensman’s death investigated

Almost three months after the death of RPN-9 cameraman Ralph Ruñez, an official of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday said they have stepped into the case and would conduct an independent investigation surrounding his death and two other possible related deaths.

Supervising Agent Arnel Dalumpines, of the NBI-Special Task Force (STF), said they have officially started their probe yesterday and assigned agents Dickson Maraneg and Johnny Logronio on the case. It appeared that Caloocan City Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) for an impartial probe into the alleged accidental death of Ernani Magnayon, who was one of the four suspects in the robbery and killing of Ruñez.

But apart from conducting a probe into Magnayon and Runez’s deaths, they would also look into the facts surrounding the killing of Celerino Galarce, the father of the principal witness in the Ruñez case. Dalumpines said, "We would conduct an investigation on the three cases to determine if they were related to each other or if these were isolated incidents."

Echiverri sent a letter to the DOJ last Oct. 9, and was received by the office of Secretary Raul Gonzalez the following day. However, it was only last Nov. 3, that it was forwarded to the NBI head office. The case was assigned to the STF on Nov. 7.

He made the request two days after Magnayon, (while he was detained at the city’s Bureau of Jail Management and Penology), was allegedly killed by Jail Officer 2 Ricardo Zulueta.

On July 28, Ruñez was robbed and killed in front of his house in Tala, Caloocan City. The Caloocan City police, in a follow-up operation – captured four alleged suspects 29-year-old Magnayon, Inspector Bryan Limbo, PO3 Aristotle de Guzman, and Charles Galarce. – Evelyn Macairan