Barok’s ‘hitmen’ charged with murder

CEBU, Philippines — Two alleged hitmen of suspected drug lord Alvaro "Barok" Alvaro were indicted for “killing” two prison guards of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).

Michael Veloso, alias “Kano,” Ricky Escudero, alias “Kiboy,” and two unidentified men were charged with murder.

"From the foregoing, the undersigned finds that the above statements of the witness and the investigating officers are sufficient evidence to hold respondents fit for trial before the court," read Cebu City Prosecutor's Office’s resolution.

No bail was recommended for their temporary liberty.

CPDRC guards—Joel Teves and Bernie Bayotas—were on board a jail transport vehicle en-route to a court hearing when four assailants riding two motorcycles peppered them with bullets.

With them was inmate Jerryfer Perigrino, who was identified as a big-time drug lord. The case against Perigrino stemmed from a greyhound operation where several packs of suspected shabu were recovered from his possession.

All three did not survive the ambush in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City on September 13, 2018.

The incident happened just less than a kilometer away from the provincial jail.

According to witness Mateo Tabis Garcia, Jr., the white jail van was suddenly ambushed by four men aboard two motorcycles.

One of the assailants, reportedly armed with a small high-powered firearm, fired at Teves who was driving.

Teves lost control of the van, which rammed into a nearby house in Unit 5, Sitio Oppra in Barangay Kalunasan, a few meters from the CPDRC.

Two men then fired at Teves and Bayotas several times before they shot Perigrino, who was handcuffed at the back of the van.

Perigrino reportedly encroached the drug business of Alvaro, who is also detained at CPDRC.

"Because of the rivalry, Barok got mad at Perigrino when he encroached on Barok's territory. They then found out that Michael Veloso, Ricky Escudero are the hitmen of Barok," read the resolution. (FREEMAN)