NBI, QCPD task force to probe fiscal’s slay

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the killing of Quezon City Deputy Prosecutor Rogelio Velasco last Friday.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD), on the other hand, has formed a task force that conduct a separate investigation of Velasco’s murder.

The QCPD also released sketches of two of the four still unidentified men who shot Velasco.

QCPD director Chief Superintendent Joselito Esquivel said one of the men is around 5’6” tall, around 30 to 35 years old, medium-built and fair-skinned.

The other assailant is around 5’7” tall, medium-built and fair-skinned. Witnesses said he wore a face mask at the time of the shooting.

Velasco is the fifth prosecutor killed so far under the administration of President Duterte, himself a former prosecutor.

The other four were Quezon Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Reymund Luna, Caloocan City Prosecutor Diosdado Azarcon, Quezon City Prosecutor Noel Mingoa, Rizal Assistant Prosecutor Maria Ronatay and retired Mandaluyong City prosecutor Pablito Gahol.

Guevarra said he directed the NBI to identify the perpetrators, determine their motive and bring them to justice.

He described the incident as another “murderous act” as he assured that prosecutors are unfazed in performing their duties despite the latest killing.

“As we await the results of the investigation being conducted by police authorities and the NBI, let us remain hopeful that the truth will be revealed and the perpetrators be made to suffer the consequences of their treacherous acts,” he added.

Esquivel said that Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Velasco is gathering the statements of possible witnesses who can provide leads on the assailants’ identities.

“The presumption is this could be job-related,” Esquivel said in an interview over dzBB.

The SITG is headed by QCPD deputy director for operations Senior Superintendent Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan.

Esquivel said Velasco’s killing could be related to illegal drugs as he handled several drug cases filed by the police.

“He is the chief prosecutor and majority of the cases we have filed are related to illegal drugs,” Esquivel said in a phone interview.

Velasco, 64, was driving his red Toyota Innova along Holy Spirit Drive in Barangay Holy Spirit when at least four armed men in another vehicle attacked him at around 4:55 p.m.

He was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center following the shooting. He died at around 6:07 p.m., police said.

Esquivel said the victim suffered at least 12 gunshot wounds in different parts of his body.

A report from QCPD Station 6 said 15 bullet casings, two deformed bullets and three metallic fragments from firearms of unknown caliber were retrieved at the scene.

Probers are coordinating with Velasco’s family to determine if he received death threats before he was ambushed.