The Department of Justice has filed murder charges against seven policemen for the killing of six civilians during “sham” illegal drugs buy-bust operations in Bulacan in February 2020.
The DOJ on Tuesday revealed that criminal information has been filed against PSSG Benjie D. Enconado, PSSG Irwin Joy M. Yuson, PCPL Marlon M. Martus, PCPL Edmund V. Catubay, Jr., PCPL Harvy C. Albino, PCPL Herbert L. Hernandez, and PAT Rusco Virnar A. Madla before the Malolos City Regional Trial Court last August 25.
The seven accused, all members of the Intelligence Section/City Drug Enforcement Unit of the San Jose Del Monte City Police Station in Bulacan, have been charged with six counts of murder and six counts of arbitrary detention in violation of the Articles 248 and 124, respectively, of the Revised Penal Code.
The indictment of the police officers came after the DOJ’s panel of prosecutors composed of Senior Assistant State Prosecutors Rodan G. Parrocha and Wendell P. Bendoval, and Assistant State Prosecutor Arturo R. Roxas, found probable cause to hold them criminally liable for the killing of the six civilians during bogus illegal drugs operations.
“The DOJ Panel is awaiting the court’s issuance of warrants of arrest against said police officers,” the department said in a statement.
The policemen were accused of killing Chamberlain S. Domingo, Chadwin D.R. Santos, Edmar S. Aspirin, Richard C. Salgado, Erwin N. Mergal, and Jim Joshua Cordero.
“Three fabricated buy-bust operations conducted by the said police officers supposedly on 14, 15, and 18 Feb. 2020 against the victims, but in truth and in fact, no buy-bust operation was ever conducted against them,” the investigating prosecutors said, in a resolution.
“The reality, based on evidence submitted by the National Bureau of Investigation-Death Investigation Division, was that the victims were unlawfully and forcibly taken on 13 Feb. 2020 at Towerville, Barangay Sto. Cristo, San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan,” they added.
The DOJ’s resolution also stated that the victims just “happened to pass by the area where a buy-bust operation took place.”
“The eye-witness account of a person who was tasked to watch over the victims while they were being unlawfully detained inside the Intel
Room of the IS/CDEU, and photographs depicting the victims, all blindfolded and hand-tied, among others, supported the indictment of the above named police officers,” the resolution stated.