CHR recommends murder raps vs 10 cops in Pasig shooting

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) recommended Monday the filing of murder charges against 10 members of the anti-carjacking unit of the police’s Traffic Management Group (TMG) involved in the fatal shooting of three suspected carjackers in Pasig City last year. The killing of the three suspected car thieves in November last year drew much controversy after a video of the incident taken by a cameraman of the UHF channel UNTV showed policemen closing in and firing at the suspects, who already appeared to be immobilized. The 10 Task Force Limbas members were indicted for killing Anthony Dulay, Francis Xavier Manzano and their driver Anton Guillermo Cu-Unjing, whom police suspected to be members of the Valle Verde Gang, a group involved in car theft. In a 35-page resolution, the CHR recommended that murder charges be filed against Sr. Insp. Hansel Marantan, Sr. Insp. Samson Belmonte, PO3 Lloyd Soria, PO3 Rizalito Ramos Jr, Sr. Insp. Henry Cerdon, PO2 Jesus Fermin, PO2 Sammy Robregado, PO1 Fernando Rey Gapus, and PO1 Josie Rey Recena. "Premises considered, we therefore find that there is probable cause there was arbitrary deprivation of life, multiple murder committed against Anthony Dulay, Francis Xavier Manzano and Anton Guillermo Cu-Unjing, done by elements of TMG Task Force Limbas," GMA 7’s DZBB quoted the CHR as saying in its resolution The CHR also said the killing of the victims was “premeditated" and that there was "criminal intent" among the TMG members when they chased the suspected carjackers. It added that the killing was done with "excessive force" and that there was "no effort" to bring the suspects to a hospital. The video showed two cars - an unmarked vehicle and the suspects' car - on Garnet Street in the Ortigas Center. Two persons who were not moving were visible in the front seats of the suspects' car. A man carrying a long firearm aimed at the car was the first to inspect the suspects' car. The officer in civilian clothes had his flashlight on and the beam of the light showed two men slumped in the front seat of the car. Another officer, also in civilian clothes, checked the car. Four men also approached the car with their firearms leveled at eye level. One of the officers opened the door at the back, and another the door on the passenger's side. A shot was then heard and the body of the man in the passenger seat jerked.GMANews.TV