Atienza: Lim must urge Jaylo to surrender

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza called on Sen. Alfredo Lim yesterday to persuade his subordinate, former police captain Reynaldo Jaylo, to surrender after the Sandiganbayan meted him a 14-year jail term for killing two former military officials in a drug bust in Makati City.

In a statement, Atienza said Lim, who is running for Manila mayor, should convince Jaylo to turn himself in since he was the one who popularized the slogan, "No one is above law. The law applies to all, otherwise none at all."

"If the court saw the evidence that way, then it’s only fair for Mr. Jaylo, with encouragement from Fred Lim, to appeal the case to a higher body and prove his contention that he and his men were carrying out lawful duties at every stage of the operation," Atienza said.

Atienza added that if Lim believes that Jaylo is innocent of these charges, "he could use his moral suasion to make him present himself to the proper authorities so the case could be finally resolved."

The Sandiganbayan sentenced Jaylo, former patrolman Edgardo Castro, Private First Class William Valenzona, and Pfc. Antonio Hablo to spend 14 years in jail for committing multiple homicide.

They were convicted for killing Army Col. Rolando de Guzman, Major Franco Calanog and Avelino Manguera at the Magallanes Commercial Center in Makati City during a buy-bust operation several years ago.

Jaylo and his co-respondents were then members of the anti-illegal drugs unit of the Manila Police District (formerly called Western Police District). They were not present during the reading of the sentence.

Castro has died while the three stopped appearing at court hearings after the defense rested its case.

Atienza noted that Lim was also known to have conducted a strong campaign against illegal drugs when he was city mayor and even earned the monicker "Dirty Harry."

Lim also became famous for spray-painting the houses of suspected drug pushers, but the Supreme Court frowned on this method.

"You cannot clean up the drug scene by merely putting on shows," Atienza said.