Police,
NBI file murder case against Iligan Lawmaker's ambush perpetrators
By PHIL PA-ALAN
ILIGAN CITY
– Regional police and NBI officials recommended to the Provincial Prosecutor of
Misamis Oriental dated January 21, 2015, the institutions filing of a case for multiple murder with
multiple frustrated murder against the perpetrators of the ambush incident at
Misamis Oriental, following the results of the findings of thecombined efforts
of Government Law Enforcement and Security Forces (PNB, AFP,
NBI) with the Special Investigation Task Group called “SITG Cong. Belmonte”,
spearheaded by Northern Mindanao Investigation and Detection Unit (NORMINCDU),
and of the National Bureau of Investigation Northern Mindanao Regional Office
(NBI-NEMRO), responding to the ambush incident that transpired last December 11, 2014
at about 1:30 in the afternoon at the vicinity of the access road, Barangay
Gasi, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, which resulted to the death of three (3)
persons, with one (1) severely injured, andslight injuries of three (3) other
victims, including incumbent Representative Vicente “Varf” Belmonte, Jr. of the
Lone District of Iligan City, the main target of the ambush by the
perpetrators.
Named suspects/respondents to the
ambush case are:
Iligan City MAYOR CELSO GOMERA REGENCIA, A.K.A. “Reggie”;
AMADOR B. BALLER, A.K.A. “Dongki”, businessman with trucking services
and operator of gambling machines; owned a cockfighting farm located near the
IBJT terminal, Tambo, Hinaplanon, Iligan City. He is the proprietor of the
Baller trucking services with office at Mandaue, Cebu City. He is the owner and
operator of an illegal gambling machines that were pasted with a “dragon” image
sticker for easy identification of his gambling machines to his paid protectors
and operated in the areas of bukidnon, Cagayan de oro City, lligan City and
other locales. He supplied baby armalite used by Dominador S. Tumala during the
ambush incident;
ROGELIO PITOS, Sr.-A.K.A “Kim”, a former NPA Rebel, a resident of
Bliss, Culo, Molave, Zamboanga del Sur with house located near the City hall of
Iligan City, whose son Rogelio Pitos, Jr., is the owner/ vendee of the GREEN
REVO used as get-away vehicle in the ambush operation;
ROMEO SUGANUB, A.K.A. “Loloy Suganub”, an illegal number games
“swertres” operator/ financer, a resident of Jeminez, Misamis Occidental, who
has a cockfighting arena in said area, reportedly a relative of the wife of the
Mayor. He was one who supplied an armalite rifle used in the ambush incident; Dominador
SumanduranTumala, A.K.A “Kumander Paras”, a former NPA rebel, a resident of
Poblacion Alto, Segio Osmena, Zamboanga del Norte;
PEEJAY CAPANGPANGAN, police officer assigned in Iligan City served as the
close-in bodyguard/ security detail to Mayor Celso Regencia, and is now a
fugitive (with an outstanding warrant of arrest for Murder) for the brutal
killing of Nanding Solijon (Love Radio/ DXLS FM broadcast-commentator). Solijon
was a hard-hitting media personality in Iligan City who constantly criticized
Mayor Regencia in his Radio program before his death; He accompanied the
suspects and was together with them when they received the final briefing from
the mastermind at the farm of Amador B. Baller;
ALFEO ARNOCO, a police officer assigned in Iligan City served as
the “close-in” bodyguard/security detail to Mayor Regencia until at present. He
was together with other suspects who gave instructions to Dominador Tumala during
their attempt to extract him from his hiding place, and was even mad at Tumala
when he called up and talked over the cellphone, blaming him on why he did not
come with the other suspects during their extraction and have suspected him as
a traitor;
JULITO OROS ANSAD, A.K.A “Bino”, a former rebel, companion of Dominador
S. Tumala when they were still working with Governor Yebes;
DODO SILVANO, a person who was seen first by Dominador S. Tumala
at the farm of Romeo “Loloy” Suganob in Jimenez, misamis Occidental;
ROGELIO PITOS, JR., whose name was traced in the getaway Green Revo
vehicle as the vendee thereof. He is the son of Rogelio Pitos, Sr., alias “Kim”,
a resident of Culo, Molave, Zamboanga del Sur. He was subpoenaed by NBI Dipolog
to shed light on the incident but he choose to snub it, and ten (10) other
suspects/respondents.
On the contrary, the
complainants/witnesses include Rep. Vicente “Varf” Belmonte, Jr.; PO3 Rouel O.
Viejo; Rio B. Don, PNP retired; Mrs. Mary Jean T. Andres; Mrs. Agnes S.
Dumaguing; Mrs. Nema G. Silawan; Noel Jaime Jo; and ten (10) other complainants/witnesses.
The recommendation for the
institution and filing for a case of multiple murder with multiple frustrated
murder against the perpetrators of the ambush incident was made in a
transmittal letter addressed to the Provincial Prosecutor of the Provincial
Prosecutor’s Office, Hayes St., Cagayan de Oro City dated January 20, 2015
together with the results of the investigation, by Police Senior Superintendent
Alexcander C. Tagum, Regional Chief, NORMINCDU; Atty. Ricardo A. Diaz, Regional
Director, NBI, Regional Office 10; and
approved for filing by Atty. Aurelio C. Trampe, Police Senior Superintendent, Deputy
Regional Director for Operations, PRO10/SITG Supervisor.
In an interview with media, Rep.
Vicente “Varf” Belmonte, Jr. said,” Police and NBI officials have already filed
the case with the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office and I am glad that the truth
has finally came out”. On the other
hand, City Mayor Celso G,.Regencia can not be contacted for his personal
comment on the filing of the case, but in an earlier radio interview conducted
by Jun Enriquez of Real Radio, Mayor Regencia categorically denied
participation in the ambush incident.
Killed during the ambush
include PO3 Marcos Aguna Andres, Ian Dumaguing, and Eustequio Nanan. PO3 Andres, who served as Belmonte’s
bodyguard, was declared dead on arrival at the government hospital in Alubijid
town, where Belmonte was also rushed for medical treatment. Senior Supt. Felipe
Abigan, Jr. said Andres was killed on the spot, while Dumaguing and Nanan died
at the Alubijid hospital. Wounded were PO3 Rouel O. Viejo,
Rio B. Don, and Noel Jaime Jo, who was rushed to the Northern Mindanao Medical
Center (NMMC) in Cagayan de Oro.
In an interview with media, Atty.
Alex T. Cabornay, chief of the NBI-Iligan District Office (NBI-ILDO) stressed
the role of the NBI-ILDO and provided updates on the ambush incident. He said the role of the NBI-ILDO in the
ambush incident investigation was to provide support and assistance to the
combined government teams investigating the incident, such as procuring
information needed in the investigation. He said a preliminary investigation will commence as soon as the case
will be assigned to the Investigating Prosecutor or Panel of Prosecutors, or
unless the Department of Justice (DOJ) Main takes cognizance of the case in
view of its national prominence, one of the victims and main target of the
ambush being a representative in the Hall of Congress. He also cautioned individuals not to discuss
the merits of the case as it may constitute an offense called subjudice since
the case is already filed. He also urged
the “bad guys” to stay out of his Area of Responsibility (AOR) as he is determined
to fulfill his sworn duty even it will cost him his dear life.
