2 Batangas cops probed on 2 preachers’ death

BATANGAS, Philippines – Two policemen in Balete town here are now in hot water after they were tagged in the death of two female preachers of the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Movement last Aug. 6. 

Superintendent Isagani Fetizanan, Batangas deputy police director for operations, said PO3 Jose Rico Benitez and PO2 Mhelven Pagkaliwangan have been relieved from their posts and ordered to report to the provincial police headquarters at Camp Miguel Malvar for an administrative investigation.

Benitez and Pagkaliwangan face questioning on the death of Adelaida Fabricante, 46, and Leonila Cafe, 48, both residents of Balete town. 

In an earlier report, the Balete police claimed that Fabricante and Cafe, whose bodies were found along a road in Barangay Makina on the night of Aug. 6, were hit-and-run victims.

However, Balete Mayor Jovencio Hidalgo ordered a reinvestigation of the case when thousands of residents gathered in front of the municipal hall last Saturday to condemn the death of the two JIL preachers. 

Hidalgo said several witnesses have volunteered to give their statements linking the two policemen to the death of the two women.

He said a number of JIL members recalled that Fabricante and Cafe decided to hitch a ride with the two police officers on their patrol car as there were no more public transport vehicles that night.

He said the victims had just come from a JIL prayer meeting in Barangay Magape.

Last Saturday, Hidalgo sought the assistance of Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta who, in turn, made a separate investigation along with her team of lawyers and medico-legal doctors. 

Based on the PAO autopsy, Hidalgo said the two women’s bodies bore signs that they were hit by a hard object on the head, back and face and their legs were punched. Their necks also bore strangulation marks, he added. 

Hidalgo said another witness has surfaced and narrated how he himself saw the policemen dump the victims’ bodies on the middle of the road. 

Another witness, according to Hidalgo, saw the two victims still on board the police patrol car as it passed by his house at around 8 p.m. of Aug. 6. 

Asked what could be the possible motive for the alleged killing, Hidalgo said the two police officers were reportedly drunk and could have taken advantage of the victims leading to their death.

The two policemen have denied the allegations against them and insisted that the victims were killed in a road accident.