Murder raps filed vs. 2 cops, others over killing of police captain

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed a murder complaint against two police officers and others who are allegedly involved in the killing of a police captain in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.

“Nakapag sampa na po tayo ng kasong murder laban po doon sa mga suspects na may kinalaman nga po doon sa pag baril at pagpatay nga po kay Captain Moralde,” PNP spokesperson Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing.

(We have filed a murder complaint against the suspects who are involved in the shooting and killing of Captain Moralde.)

“At dalawa po diyan sa nakasuhan ay dalawang pulis po (and two of those are police officers),” she added.

Last week, Police Captain Roland Moralde was shot dead after chiding a vendor for having a gun in his possession. He initially exchanged fire with man he admonished, but he was cornered and shot after four other suspects came.

During the manhunt operation, the gunman reprimanded by Moralde was killed. The two police officers involved, meanwhile, surrendered to authorities.

Fajardo said they are currently detained at the Maguindanao Municipal Police Station.

“Hindi po sila nagsasalita at sinabi po nila na haharapin na lamang po nila ‘yung kasong isinampa po sa kanila,” the spokesperson said.

(They are not speaking but they said that they will face the charges against them.)

She also said that the M16 rifles issued to the police officers have been surrendered and they are waiting for the results of a ballistic examination.

According to Fajardo, administrative cases will also be filed against the cops.

Meanwhile, she said that manhunt operations are still ongoing for the three identified suspects who remain at-large.

“Yung ibang mga at-large ay lumalabas na mga kamag anak din dahil halos pare-pareho sila ng mga apelyido,” she said.

(The suspects who are still at large seem to be related because they have the same surnames.)

Fajardo noted that in the CCTV footage, the suspects continued to shoot Moralde instead of helping him when he had toppled down.

Meanwhile, Fajardo said that four police officers who were with Moralde prior to the incident have been relieved from their posts while under investigation.

“‘Yun din po ay subject ng investigation po ng Internal Affairs Service (IAS) po… para alamin kung anong nangyari at hindi man lang nila inalalayan o rumesponde nung nakarinig po sila ng putukan doon sa area at bigla po silang nawala,” she said.

(This is subject to investigation by the IAS… so we can determine what happened and why they did not respond once they heard a shootout in the area.)

Moralde’s remains arrived at Camp Crame on Sunday. Fajardo said it will remain at the PNP mortuary until Wednesday. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News