Suspect in massacre faces suit for weapons violation

MANILA, Philippines - A former police official involved in a massacre south of Metro Manila will be charged with illegal possession of firearms. National Police Spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome on Wednesday said retired senior police officer 4 Florencio Peria will be charged for possessing an unlicensed M-16 rifle that bore his name and which was used in the massacre of eight people in Calamba City, Laguna last Monday. Mr. Bartolome told BusinessWorld they are still establishing if Peria participated in the murders. The ex-policeman is being held at the Calabarzon (Calamba-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) police regional headquarters in Camp Vicente Lim, Calamba. Lone murderer Bernabe Fiesta allegedly used Peria’s rifle to kill eight people, including five children, and injuring nine others. Fiesta was killed in a shoot-out with Laguna police on Tuesday. Authorities decided to turn over a P300,000 bounty to the victims’ families, Mr. Bartolome said. Meanwhile, National Police chief Director-General Avelino I. Razon, Jr. said police are pursuing an organized crime syndicate that may be responsible for the brutal killing of 10 people inside the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. branch in Cabuyao town, also in Laguna. Mr. Razon said in a statement that they expects a breakthrough with the help of a key informant who identified one of the suspects through a file photo. In a related development, the Makati policemen has tightened security for banks and establishments with checkpoints set up in streets corner to inspect vehicles, Mr. Razon said. In Quezon province, motorcycle-riding Special Weapons and Tactics teams are patrolling business establishments in Lucena City. Mr. Razon earlier ordered increased police visibility during banking hours. - BusinessWorld