3 Manila cops in shooting of rob-slay suspect welcome probe

MANILA, Philippines - Three Manila policemen who escorted a man tagged in the rob-slay of a seaman welcomed yesterday an investigation into the suspect’s death.

“My men, Police Officer 3 Jonathan Ruiz and POs2 Erwin Castro and Gerry Amores, including me, are ready to face any investigating body in connection with the shooting of Ronald Sevilla,” said Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo, who heads the homicide section of the Manila Police District (MPD).

Sevilla, while in a police vehicle that was supposed to bring him back to the MPD after his inquest at the Manila City Hall, reportedly grabbed the service firearm of Castro, who was beside him in the back seat.

Ruiz said he shot Sevilla when he saw the suspect had Castro’s gun and his colleague’s life was in danger.

Margarejo welcomed an investigation following reports that Sevilla’s mother, Corazon, asked the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the death of her son. Corazon is also reportedly seeking the help of the National Bureau of Investigation in the probe.

“Just because no one of my men was wounded or killed during the scuffle, the mother is now thinking that her son was summarily executed. With due respect to her, I can say that I am happy that my men acted in precise manner to protect their own lives,” Margarejo said.

He also brushed aside the notion that Sevilla could not have snatched De Castro’s gun since he was in handcuffs. There are countless incidents wherein a handcuffed person can manage to overpower his escort and escape, Margarejo said.

On Corazon’s allegations that she saw a relative of victim Edralin Amon handing an envelope to Margarejo in what looked like a payoff to execute the suspect, Margarejo said he was the one who handed an envelope to the relative containing the death certificate of the victim.

“Her statement will further boost our stand that there was no police brutality on the suspect while in detention since his relatives were guarding him 24 hours a day,” he said.