DOJ OKs murder raps vs Iligan mayor

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has approved the indictment of suspended Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia and eight others in connection with the ambush on Iligan Rep. Vicente Belmonte Jr. last year.

In a resolution released yesterday, a panel of state prosecutors found probable cause to file three counts of murder and four counts of frustrated murder against Regencia, Amador Baller, Rogelio Pitos Sr., Rogelio Pitos Jr., Romeo Suganub, Peejay Capangpangan, Alfeo Arnoco, Dodo Silvano and six other unidentified suspects.

Belmonte’s driver France Ian Dumaguig, security aide Eustiquio Silawan Jr. and police escort Marcos Andres were killed while three of his  other aides were wounded in the ambush.

Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, who approved the resolution, said the complaints would be filed on Monday with the Cagayan de Oro regional trial court.

The DOJ panel cited the confession of suspect-turned-witness Dominador Tumala that Regencia was the mastermind of the crime.

Tumala, the only suspect in police custody, said he was part of a group of gunmen behind the ambush.

He said he was forced to confess because Arnoco, one of Regencia’s bodyguards, was angry at him because he did not escape.

“There are circumstantial evidence that would point to their (respondents’) complicity in commission of the crime,” the DOJ resolution added.

Belmonte’s two-vehicle convoy was ambushed near the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental on Dec. 11, 2014.

Tumala, who was arrested two days after the incident, tested positive for gunpowder burns. He said he and the other gunmen were recruited in August last year and promised P50,000 each.

Regencia, according to Tumala, wanted to get rid of Belmonte because he wanted to run for mayor of Iligan.