Cops found guilty for deaths of father, son in 2016 drug operation

A Caloocan court has found four police officers guilty of homicide for the killing of a father and son during a drug buy-bust operation in 2016.

In its ruling, the Caloocan Regional Trial Court Branch 121 sentenced Virgilio Cervantes, Arnel De Guzman, Johnston Alacre, and Artemio Saguros to six years up to 10 years of imprisonment for the killing of Luis Bonifacio and his son, Gabriel Lois in September 2016.

The court also ordered them to pay P100,000 each for actual damages, moral damages, temperate damage, and civil indemnity with an interest of 6% per annum from the date of finality of the decision until fully paid.

The cops were initially charged with murder but the Office of the Ombudsman downgraded it to homicide. 

In its ruling, the court said it was not convinced by the accused’s defense that the father and son fired shots, which prompted them to fire back. 

“It is highly improbable that these victims sustained multiple injuries in the different parts of their body if the accused fired only one shot each to defend and keep themselves safe from the gunshots coming from the upper part of the house,” the court said.

The court said it found the testimony of Luis' widow Mary Ann more credible.

She testified that the police officers suddenly entered the house, poked a gun at the occupants, and ordered all except the two victims to go down and leave.

She also said that she saw the policemen order her husband to kneel while her son pleaded for their lives.

“The totality of the evidence presented would clearly show that the gunshots made by the accused were not intended to just protect the safety of the police officers,” the court said.

“The injuries sustained by the victims, the multiple gunshots on their bodies as well as other fractures and wounds would glaringly show the brutality employed upon them, despite the pleading for mercy of the victims,” it added.

Meanwhile, the court said that the accused could not argue that they acted in self defense or in fulfillment of their duty.

It also said that conspiracy was present and duly proven.

“The firing of shots made by all the accused which caused the death of the victims without justifiable cause shows same criminal intent towards the same criminal design,” the court said.

In a statement, the National Union of People’s Lawyers-National Capital Region (NUPL-NCR), who represented the victims, welcomed the decision.

“Today’s triumph is a comfort to the family of Luis and Gabriel Lois and a sigh of relief for us, the private prosecutors, our clients and friends in Rise Up for Life and for Rights, and others who supported this quest for justice,” it said.

Further, the NUPL-NCR said that the conviction showed that the “bloody hands of authorities are behind Oplan Tokhang.” 

“Luis and Gabriel Lois were but two of 6,252 killed in police operations. The number of those brought to court for killings barely reaches a hundred… and yet, while we readily know who made the blueprint for widespread and systematic murders — they are the ones who remain beyond the reach of investigation or prosecution,” it said.

The NUPL said that the struggle to seek justice continues. —NB, GMA Integrated News