Aguirre house attack lasted only 5 minutes - probers

MANILA, Philippines - Investigators yesterday conducted a reenactment of last Saturday’s killing of three security escorts of Banco Filipino owner Albert “Bobby” Aguirre in his house in BF Homes International, Las Piñas City.

“We were able to establish the movements of the assailants. And the attack, from the moment the assassins got in the house till they left, lasted for about five minutes only. It was that fast,” said city police chief Senior Superintendent Romulo Sapitula.

Sapitula said all those who witnessed the crime and were in Aguirre’s house during the attack were present yesterday, especially the businessman’s driver, Fernando Aribon. Also present were the masseuse, Aguirre’s lawyer Carmelo Mendoza, and two housemaids.

About 10 men armed with “short” firearms barged into Aguirre’s house shortly before midnight on Black Saturday. Surveillance camera footage showed they were in two private cars, a taxi cab, and a stolen motorcycle.

Killed were security guard David Manguera, and retired Senior Police Officer 2 Melvin Padaca, and PO3 Luisito Macatunao, both from Philippine National Police (PNP) Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG).

Based on the reenactment, Aribon said the assailants in the taxi honked and Manguera opened the gate. Aribon told Sapitula that it has been a practice in the Aguirre household that gates were immediately opened once a car outside honks its horn.

The motorcycle was able to enter the compound, but only half of the cab’s body was in. The assailants – still unidentified, according to Sapitula – shot Manguera.

Aribon – about 15 meters away from the main gate – was awakened by the shots and called the attention of Padaca, who was sleeping near opposite gate about five meters away from Aribon. The policeman rushed to the scene but was also met with gunshots.

After informing Padaca, Aribon rushed inside the house and warned Aguirre, who at that time was on the mansion’s second floor. Sapitula noted that none of the 10 armed men during the five-minute attacks bothered to get into the house.

When the police responded, they discovered that Macatunao, who was in the security barracks, was also shot dead.

The chief of police declined to elaborate as to the possible motives but said the initial assessment, based on “careful analysis” of the camera footage, was that the attack was disorganized.