2nd batch of cops talk on Kuratong (1)

Prosecutors of the Kuratong Baleleng multiple murders are not about to give up. They were set back by Judge Teresa Yadao’s dismissal of new evidence against 34 retired and active-duty policemen. Adamant, they filed a motion for reconsideration of the affidavits of Insp. Ysmael Yu, Sr. Insp. Abelardo Ramos, and Sr. Police Officer-2 Wilmor Medes. After all, Yu had sworn he apprehended alive in Parañaque on the night of May 17, 1995 eight of the 11 men who were killed in an alleged shootout with cops a few hours later at dawn. Ramos had said too that he was ordered to take the captives from Camp Crame to Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, for summary execution. And Medes had stated they were later instructed by superiors to deny under oath their participation in both the Parañaque raid and the Quezon City "shooutout".

The prosecutors don’t want Yadao to do the reconsidering, however. Citing bias for the accused, they want her to inhibit and transfer the case to the other heinous-crime judge at the Quezon City regional trial court. That’s the only way they can get to the bottom of what happened to the $2-million and P25-million loot that the suspected bank robbers had stashed. To bolster their case, they added the statements of four more policemen. Two of them corroborate Yu’s narrative. Following are excerpts from their affidavits:

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I am Sr. Insp. Marlon S. Sapla, Filipino, of legal age, married, member of the Philippine National Police assigned to the Directorate for Intelligence, Camp Crame.

(1) On May 17, 1995 I was operations officer of Special Operations Battalion, Special Action Force, based in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, under then-Chief Insp. Samson Tucay.

(2) I was duty officer that day. At about 9 p.m. Insp. Ysmael Yu told me to form two teams for an operation, composed of men from the Anti-Terrorist Unit, K9 Unit, and Light Armor Company. Yu and I each led a team, with eight and seven men, respectively.

(3) At around 10 p.m. we were dispatched by then-Sr. Insp. Dionard Carlos, battalion deputy head. We reported to Chief Supt. Jewel Canson, National Capital Region Command head; Chief Supt. Romeo Acop, Criminal Investigation Service head; Sr. Supt. Francisco Zubia, Traffic Management Service head; and Sr. Supt. Panfilo Lacson, chief of Task Force Habagat, Presidential Anti-Crime Commission.

(4) Zubia briefed us on the floor plan of the target house on 14 Palm St., Superville Subd., Parañaque, hideout of the dreaded Kuratong Baleleng Group (KBG). We were told that the KBG was armed and dangerous, and might fight back during the raid. We were instructed to shoot back if fired upon. We were further told not collect or save anything from the house, as Zubia said "bahala kami sa inyo."

(5) At about 11 p.m. we left camp on two Hummer trucks led by a V-150 armored vehicle, and proceeded to Superville. Upon entering the subdivision we went straight to the target house. The V-150 rammed the gate of the house, thus paving the way for our easy entry. As planned, Yu’s team entered the house and my team secured the immediate vicinity to catch any person who might attempt to escape. In a minute or two, the house occupants were placed under control.

(6) We arrested eight live alleged gang members, some only in shorts and some shirtless. At one point, Zubia talked to one of them called "Alap-ap". I saw two vans parked in the garage, with assorted detached license plates inside. There was also an attaché case which contained money.

(7) After the arrest of the eight live suspects, Yu’s team assaulted the nearby house but yielded negative results. When both houses were cleared, the suspects and recovered items were turned over to Canson, Acop, Zubia and Lacson. Before midnight we returned to our headquarters.

(8) The next day, May 18, I went to the NCRC operations center to collect more data on the Superville operation. I was suprised to learn there was no report about it. When I mentioned the KBG, I was informed that a shootout had occurred on Commonwealth Avenue involving the same suspects we arrested and vehicles we recovered the previous night.

(9) Notwithstanding such scenario, I prepared an after-operation report and submitted it to the office of the assistant director for operations of SAF, but was told by Tucay to retrieve it, which I followed.

Signed, 27 Oct. 2003 in Quezon City.

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I am Loreto C. Valle, of legal age, married, residing in Camp Crame.

(1) I am a member of the PNP-Special Action Force based in Camp Bagong Diwa, with rank of Sr. Police Officer-1.

(2) On May 17, 1995 I was part of an operation at Parañaque, and one of those who reported that night to Chief Supt. Jewel Canson.

(3) We were briefed by General Panfilo Lacson and Canson about a mission at a criminal hideout in Superville Subd.

(4) At the hideout we arrested several men who did not put up a fight because we took them by surprise.

(5) We rode a Hummer vehicle. The area turned dark because the assaulting V-150 had bumped an electric post and cut the wires. The V-150’s headlights were used to brighten up the house.

(6) My team was assigned at the house gate as security force, and I was by the right side when I noted a long table with beer bottles and cigarettes, and two parked vans.

(7) After tying up the suspects and clearing the house, my team leader Insp. Ysmael Yu called Lacson and other officers, as previously planned. General Lacson and the officers, in civvies, arrived moments later in several cars.

(8) Upon entering the house, Lacson said, "Okay, SAF boys, back to Bicutan, at kami na ang bahala dito, maraming salamat sa inyong lahat."

(9) The next morning we were surprised to hear on radio the news about men killed on Commonwealth Avenue. I surmised the fatalities were the same men we had arrested the night before because of the description of the vans and that their hands were tied.

Signed 16 Oct. 2003 in Quezon City.

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