Police, NBI file murder case against Iligan Lawmaker's ambush perpetrators

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.