Lawmaker denies hand in cop’s slay

MANILA, Philippines – A lawmaker yesterday denied involvement in the killing of a police major in an ambush in Balara, Quezon City in 2013. Bulacan Rep. Arturo Robes and his wife, Florida, denied accusations that they masterminded the murder of Chief Inspector Romeo Ricalde Jr., former head of the Northern Police District special operations unit.

Ricalde’s wife, Bernadette, implicated the Robes couple in her husband’s killing.During initial investigation of the case, Bernadette named four persons who could have probable motives in the killing of her husband.

But early this month, Bernadette changed her tune and linked Robes and his wife to the case.

The couple’s lawyer, Dennis Manalo, said Bernadette was a former employee of his clients but was dismissed in 2011 for dishonesty.

Manalo claimed Bernadette linked the Robes couple to her husband’s killing “to get even with her employers.”

An officer of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) described Bernadette’s accusation as baseless.

The CIDG official, who requested anonymity, said the motive for the killing of Ricalde could be work-related since he had arrested several drug suspects.

Based on her sworn statement to the Quezon City Police District Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, Bernadette tagged a certain Lorenzo – a police officer whose relative was nabbed by Ricalde for illegal drugs – and a business partner.

She said her husband’s relationship with his business partner turned sour due to uneven profit sharing.

Police said Ricalde’s business partner was the last person he talked to before he was shot dead along Heizel street in Barangay Pansol, Balara, Quezon City on Oct. 25, 2013.