DOJ concludes probe on Chong aide’s murder

The panel will rule shortly whether to bring the case to court or to drop the charges. (File Photo By Ramon FVelasquez – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA — Prosecutors on Tuesday concluded its preliminary investigation against 23 policemen over the alleged murder of the aide of former Biliran Representative Glenn Chong and his female companion.

The panel will rule shortly whether to bring the case to court or to drop the charges.

Following the presentation of the witnesses, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Chong decided to no longer reply to the counter-affidavits of the respondents prompting the panel to declare the case as submitted for resolution.

The complaint filed by the NBI stemmed from the killing of Richard Santillan and his female companion Gessamyn Casing in Barangay San Andres in Cainta, Rizal in December 2018, has named as respondents for obstruction of justice, Calabarzon police regional director Brig. Gen. Edward Carranza; Rizal provincial director Col.

Lou Evangelista; and Cainta police chief Lt.

Col. Pablito Naganag.

Two counts of murder and one count of planting of evidence were also filed against seven officers from the Cainta police station led by Lt. Sandro Ortega, four officers from the provincial office of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group led by Capt. John Russel Barnacha and 10 operatives of Regional Special Operations Unit led by M/Sgt. Rene Eufracio.

The NBI has concluded that the incident was a rubout and not a shootout as claimed by the police officers.

Carranza and his men, for his part, has claimed that the incident last December was part of their legitimate police operations against the so-called “Highway Boys” involved in drug trade, carnapping, robbery and killings along the Manggahan Floodway in Cainta.