(CNN Philippines) — More families of alleged victims of a supposed anti-illegal drugs operation filed charges against policemen from Quezon City before the Ombudsman on Thursday.
Relatives of the victims, who covered their faces during filing of cases, fear for their lives as the case drags on.
But for Belinda Daa, the incident is hard to forget.
She is a mother in agony over losing her son to a crime she claims he was never guilty of.
“Ipinaglalaban ko kasi wala silang shabu. Nagkamali sila ng punta,” an emotional Daa said.
[Translation: I am fighting because my son did not have shabu. They were mistaken.]
For the police, it was a legitimate anti-illegal drugs operation.
But for Daa, it was murder.
Her son Marcelo was killed with three others – Jessie Cule, Rhaffy Gabo, and Anthony Comendo – in a supposed drug operation in Payatas, Quezon City on August 21, 2016.
Another companion, Efren Morillo, survived that incident and filed criminal and administrative charges before the Ombudsman against the four policemen early this month.
Morillo said they were playing billiards when the police arrived and handcuffed them – clueless of the crime they committed.
Based on his testimony, they were brought to a nearby house where they were shot one by one.
Morillo played dead until he had the chance to escape.
With Morillo’s narrative, Daa became more agitated to fight.
On Thursday, Daa and relatives of other victims filed supplementary charges against SInsp. Emil Garcia, PO3 Allan Formilleza, PO1 James Aggarao, PO1 Melchor Navisaga and four other civilians who are said to be informants of the police officers.
“Nag-file po tayo ng murder, frustrated murder, planting of evidence, among other things. Kasama na po yung administrative charges. Ngayon, may tatlong kapamilya mismo ng namatay na nagdagdag ng haing kaso o asunto. Nagpapatibay ito sa naunang naifile ni Efren Morillo,” said Atty. Rommel Bragares, lawyer of the victims’ family.
[Translation: We filed (charges of) murder, frustrated murder, planting of evidence, among other things. We also filed administrative charges. Now, three family members of those who died added cases. This strengthens the case first filed by Efren Morillo.]
For the relatives, they may seek security under a permanent protection order from the Supreme Court.
But they say the accused policemen may hire other people to try to silence them.
“Hindi natin alam ang takbo ng isip ng mga pulis na yun. Kahit sabihin mong Writ of Amparo kami, siyempre, mag-uutos sila, siyempre malaking kawalan yun sa kanila pag natalo sila. Siyempre, ganti-gantihan na lang yan,” Marilyn Malimban, live-in partner of Cule said.
[Translation: We don’t know how those cops’ minds work. Even if we say we are under the Writ of Amparo, they will give orders since it will be a big blow to them if they lose. It will be about retaliation.]
The Quezon City Police District says the four policemen were already relieved from their posts.
They are now reporting to the Personnel Holding and Administrative Unit of the National Capital Region Police Office.
A lawyer of the victims’ families, Kristina Antonio, warns the suspects will face more charges if they will harass her clients.
“Ang mensahe din natin sa mga gawa noon na gusto silang takutin e mag-ingat-ingat din sila dahil patong-patong na kaso ang ating isasampa laban sa kanila,” said Antonio.
[Translation: Our message to those who want to intimidate is for them to be careful because we will file one case on top of another against them.]
As for the families of the alleged victims, they will not stop until justice is served.
The Philippine National Police, meanwhile, welcomed the filing of charges to give the policemen involved a chance to explain their side in a proper forum.
But PNP Spokesman SSupt. Dionardo Carlos hopes complainants are not using these cases to harass policemen who just performed their jobs.
“Maganda ho yun na present it before our court and then to be determined by a criminal court kung merong violation. Ang sa’min lang ho, sana naman hindi ito gawin para lang harass-in ang mga pulis nating nagta-trabaho,” Carlos said.
[Translation: It will be good to present it before our court and then to be determined by a criminal court if there was a violation. We hope that these cases aren’t just to harass our policemen who are doing their job.]
