CA affirms arrest order vs 8 cops For deaths of man, daughter in 2008 Parañaque shootout

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed its earlier order for the arrest of eight of 25 police officers involved in a shootout in Parañaque City in December 2008, wherein a seafarer and his seven-year-old daughter were among those killed.

In a nine-page resolution, the former CA eighth division junked the motion filed by the eight policemen seeking to reverse a June 15 CA ruling that revived the criminal case against them.

The CA said the motion did not raise new arguments to warrant a reversal of the ruling that nullified the Parañaque regional trial court’s 2010 decision clearing Chief Inspector Lawrence Cajipe, Chief Inspector Joel Mendoza, Inspector Gerardo Balacutan, PO3 Jolito Mamanao, Jr., PO3 Fernando Rey Gapuz, PO2 Eduardo Blanco, PO2 Edwin Santos and PO1 Josil Rey Lucena.

The CA maintained that the Paranaque RTC Branch 260 Judge Jaime Guray erred in immediately dismissing the cases against Cajipe and his team after 53-year-old Alfredo de Vera and daughter Lia were shot dead in a crossfire on Dec. 5, 2008.

The CA also junked a letter – filed by the police officers’ lawyer, Hector Corpus – addressed to the division clerk of court and an urgent motion to quash the arrest warrants or suspend their implementation.

Complainant Lilian de Vera blamed the police for the death of her husband and daughter. A total of 16 people, including the two victims and a police officer, were killed during the incident.