PNP general faces raps for Ozamiz rubout

MANILA, Philippines - A general who used to head the Calabarzon police force is facing charges in connection with the killing of two Ozamiz robbery gang leaders in Laguna last July 15.

Task Force San Pedro of the Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service (IAS) recommended that Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona should be administratively charged for being the immediate superior of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG), whose members killed Ricky “Kambal” Cadavero and Wilfredo “Kulot” Panogalinga, according to a report submitted by the task force to PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima.

Estipona should be charged as provided for under Republic Act 8551, the PNP reform and reorganization law, the task force said, noting that the law provides that the immediate superior or supervisor of the personnel or units being investigated shall be automatically included in the investigation of the IAS to exclusively determine lapses in administration and supervision.

Since Estipona is a general, the task force said it is indispensable that a presidential clearance be secured in order for him to be administratively charged. Estipona has been cooperative in the investigation.

The task force reported that shortly after turning over the detainees to the officials of the Bureau of Corrections, RSOG chief Superintendent Danilo Mendoza received a text message from Estipona saying, “OK, i-file nyo din asap ang kay Kambal at Kulot.”

Estipona’s text message was apparently in reply to a question from Mendoza.

Cops used stolen car

Meanwhile, PNP public information office chief Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac confirmed a report published by The STAR that police officers used a stolen vehicle in transporting Cadavero and Panogalinga when they were killed in San Pedro, Laguna last July 15.

Sindac said the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) reported that the van’s original plate number was WFJ-145, registered under the name of Roel Querrez. It was stolen while parked at the Liberty Center on Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong on Dec. 11, 2006.

He said the plate number attached to the van, WED-238, is still under verification but is not in the list of stolen vehicles.

“It is immaterial how the vehicle ended in the possession of the police,” Sindac said. “We are not allowed to use (stolen or) recovered vehicles either for private or official use.”