Prosecutor sees no conflict of interest in handling case of Kawit shooter

Cavite Chief Provincial Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco on Monday said he sees no conflict of interest in prosecuting the mass shooting case that involves a slain gunman whose father served as the chief security of his father, Epimaco Velasco when he was Cavite governor.

Velasco said although Ronald Bae’s father, a colonel in the defunct Philippine Constabulary, served as chief security for his father in 1996, the case will be prosecuted based on the evidence gathered by the police.

Velasco added that Rodel Bae, a brother of the slain shooter, also once served as part of his father’s security detail.

“There is no conflict of interest here. We will prosecute based on evidence,” he said.

The Cavite Prosecutor’s Office on Monday afternoon filed charges of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder and violation of Republic Act 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act) against John Paul Lopez, the slain gunman’s house caretaker who allegedly aided the shooter during the shooting spree by helping the gunman reload the magazines of his caliber .45 pistol.

Velasco said prosecutors will use as evidence a video footage taken of the shooting spree as well as testimonies from eyewitnesses.

Meanwhile, Velasco said Lopez who surrendered himself to police on Friday night in Imus, Cavite, will remain under the custody of the Imus Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.