Ex-soldier tagged in Makati engineer’s slay shot dead

MANILA, Philippines - A former Army soldier implicated in the killing of a former engineer of the Makati City government in 2012 was shot dead in an alleged encounter with police officers in Bicol last Friday.

Police said Ramson Concepcion suffered 13 gunshot wounds and died while being taken to the Isip General Hospital in Polangui, Albay.

Concepcion was tagged in the murder of engineer Nelson Morales.

Recovered from him was a 9mm pistol and a YSM motorcycle without license plates.

Chief Superintendent Fernando Mendez, director of the Philippine National Police’s Intelligence Group, said the suspect is a member of the Concepcion robbery group headed by his brother, Gilbert.

Mendez said the group was believed responsible for the spate of robberies and extortion activities in the provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur.

He said the group was also involved in contract killings.

The Concepcion brothers have a pending arrest warrant for murder issued by Judge Mamerto Uban of the Tabaco City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 18 for the killing of Morales in 2012.

The victim’s family has offered a P300,000 reward for the arrest of the suspects. Gilbert remains at large.

Morales’ name cropped up during the recent Senate hearing on the alleged properties of Vice President Jejomar Binay in Rosario, Batangas and the Makati City Hall parking building.

Senior Superintendent Ronald Lee, chief of the Counter Intelligence Division of the IG, said an informant said that Concepcion and his companions were out to stage a robbery in Polangui, Albay last Friday.

Lee said members of the Regional Intelligence Unit rushed to Barangay Molosbolos in Libon town where the suspect was spotted on his motorcycle.

Operatives of the Regional Public Safety Battalion, Regional Special Operations Group, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Polangui police and Navy personnel put up a checkpoint to intercept the suspect.

Instead of yielding, Concepcion allegedly ignored the police checkpoint, pulled out his handgun and opened fire, prompting the police officers to return fire.

Another suspect in the killing of Morales, Christian Saysay, was shot dead two years ago in Malinao town, also in Albay.

Police had earlier arrested Saysay’s relative, Roderick Sarahan, who is facing charges for his role in the murder.