No case vs motorist tagged in Ninoy killer’s death

MANILA, Philippines - No criminal charges were filed against the driver of a sport utility vehicle (SUV) that hit and killed one of the aviation security officers convicted in the assassination of former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. last Monday.

“There was an amicable settlement between” Henry Roque and the family of former master sergeant Pablo Martinez, 78, who died a day after he was hit by Roque’s vehicle while he was biking along Roxas Boulevard at around 7 a.m. Monday, Southern Police District (SPD) director Chief Superintendent Jose Erwin Villacorte said.

Villacorte earlier told The STAR that Martinez agreed to an amicable settlement with Roque before he died. He added that Roque also agreed to compensate the family of the victim.

“That was the reason that the driver of the SUV, Henry Roque, was released from police custody,” he said.

Roque, a Philippine Airlines employee, allegedly tried to escape but was arrested after he got stuck in traffic.

Martinez’s son, Diomedes, reportedly sought a thorough investigation of the incident, saying there could be foul play.

Court records showed that Martinez, of the defunct Aviation Security Command, was under orders to kill Rolando Galman if the latter backed out from assassinating Aquino at the last minute.

Martinez, who maintained that Galman killed Aquino and was in turn shot dead, was released from prison on Nov. 23, 2007 after he was pardoned by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.