CABANATUAN CITY – The National Bureau of Investigation indicted on Friday two soldiers, a village chief and three members of the local peacekeeping force for the killing of a student and a tricycle driver in separate incidents in Nueva Ecija.
The suspects were identified as Army Pvt. Rheian Aligem, detailed at the 7th Infantry Division in Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Palayan City; T/Sgt. Reyes Lazo, a member of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) based in Tarlac; Danilo Damaso, barangay captain of Caputican, Talavera, Nueva Ecija; Bantay Bayan chief Regalado Sacatrapos and members Amancio De Leon and Ramil Del Mundo.
On information filed before the Nueva Ecija Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, the NBI noted that the suspects even created scenes to justify the crimes.
Pedro S. Roque, Jr., NBI Nueva Ecija head agent, said Alidem was indicted for the “merciless killing” of Eusebio Sebastian Jr., a 19-year-old college student in Barangay Mapalad, Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija on May 24, 2010.
Investigation disclosed that the victim, along with a friend, was first “bullied by Aligem and two still unidentified companions” that night. Sensing harm, the duo ran for safety towards a grassy area near the military checkpoint but the soldiers pursued them with bullets.
Eusebio’s body was found lying in blood. An autopsy report showed he succumbed to three gunshot wounds on the head and one in his back.
Accosted by barangay officials, the suspect reportedly even asked them to just allow him to leave for a while to wear his military uniform. “He promised to be back soon but failed to do so,” the NBI said.
Lazo and the village officials, on the other hand, were charged for the killing of Ariel Regondola,33, resident of Cabanatuan City, in Caputican Elementary School, Barangay Caputican, Talavera, Nueva Ecija on May 7, Roque said.
Investigation conducted by agent Ferdie Dela Cruz showed the victim, along with two other companions was flagged down at a checkpoint manned by Lazo and were asked by Sacatrapos for identity papers. Unable to show registration papers for the tricycle he was driving, Sacatrapos allegedly uttered invectives and asked the victim how many of them he would like to die which the victim answered “isa lang po.”
“Then Sacatrapos told Lazo “Sarge, isa lang pala gustong mamatay. Afterwards, Sacatrapos pulled out a gun then shot the victim at the back of his head,” the NBI reported.
Lazo reportedly berated Sacatrapos but “not one exerted effort and tried to bring the victim to the nearest hospital” even after the barangay captain arrived. Instead, the village head was quoted as saying, “ayusin na lang natin ito para wala nang madamay,” which Lazo allegedly complimented with “tutal Bisaya naman.”
In an apparent attempt to cover up the crime, the NBI reported, Sacatrapos and his members executed an affidavit saying they apprehended the victim at the checkpoint and he accidentally shot him when “he tried to wrestle away a calber 45. pistol,” supposedly owned by Regondola.
But the medico legal test showed that Regondola died of “penetrating gunshot wound at the back of the head,” according to NBI agent Ferdie dela Cruz. The victim’s hands were also found negative of gunpowder nitrates.
“They could not just kill anybody and get away with it,” said Dela Cruz.
Roque said they would effect the arrest of the suspects once warrants are released.
The suspects were identified as Army Pvt. Rheian Aligem, detailed at the 7th Infantry Division in Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Palayan City; T/Sgt. Reyes Lazo, a member of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) based in Tarlac; Danilo Damaso, barangay captain of Caputican, Talavera, Nueva Ecija; Bantay Bayan chief Regalado Sacatrapos and members Amancio De Leon and Ramil Del Mundo.
On information filed before the Nueva Ecija Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, the NBI noted that the suspects even created scenes to justify the crimes.
Pedro S. Roque, Jr., NBI Nueva Ecija head agent, said Alidem was indicted for the “merciless killing” of Eusebio Sebastian Jr., a 19-year-old college student in Barangay Mapalad, Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija on May 24, 2010.
Investigation disclosed that the victim, along with a friend, was first “bullied by Aligem and two still unidentified companions” that night. Sensing harm, the duo ran for safety towards a grassy area near the military checkpoint but the soldiers pursued them with bullets.
Eusebio’s body was found lying in blood. An autopsy report showed he succumbed to three gunshot wounds on the head and one in his back.
Accosted by barangay officials, the suspect reportedly even asked them to just allow him to leave for a while to wear his military uniform. “He promised to be back soon but failed to do so,” the NBI said.
Lazo and the village officials, on the other hand, were charged for the killing of Ariel Regondola,33, resident of Cabanatuan City, in Caputican Elementary School, Barangay Caputican, Talavera, Nueva Ecija on May 7, Roque said.
Investigation conducted by agent Ferdie Dela Cruz showed the victim, along with two other companions was flagged down at a checkpoint manned by Lazo and were asked by Sacatrapos for identity papers. Unable to show registration papers for the tricycle he was driving, Sacatrapos allegedly uttered invectives and asked the victim how many of them he would like to die which the victim answered “isa lang po.”
“Then Sacatrapos told Lazo “Sarge, isa lang pala gustong mamatay. Afterwards, Sacatrapos pulled out a gun then shot the victim at the back of his head,” the NBI reported.
Lazo reportedly berated Sacatrapos but “not one exerted effort and tried to bring the victim to the nearest hospital” even after the barangay captain arrived. Instead, the village head was quoted as saying, “ayusin na lang natin ito para wala nang madamay,” which Lazo allegedly complimented with “tutal Bisaya naman.”
In an apparent attempt to cover up the crime, the NBI reported, Sacatrapos and his members executed an affidavit saying they apprehended the victim at the checkpoint and he accidentally shot him when “he tried to wrestle away a calber 45. pistol,” supposedly owned by Regondola.
But the medico legal test showed that Regondola died of “penetrating gunshot wound at the back of the head,” according to NBI agent Ferdie dela Cruz. The victim’s hands were also found negative of gunpowder nitrates.
“They could not just kill anybody and get away with it,” said Dela Cruz.
Roque said they would effect the arrest of the suspects once warrants are released.
