President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the investigation on the killing of security aide of former Biliran Representative Glenn Chong to be “fair and thorough,” Malacañang said on Tuesday, January 1.
In its statement three weeks after the incident, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Palace denounced the “brutal and brazen” murder of Richard Red Santillan that happened last December 10.
“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has ordered a fair and thorough investigation of the case until the killers, including the mastermind, are put behind bars,” Panelo said.
Santillan was killed in an alleged encounter with cops in Cainta, Rizal. He was suspected to be a member of Highway Boys, a group that is being linked to car theft and illegal drug trade.
Authorities claimed they flagged down the sports utility vehicle (SUV) Santillan was boarding, but instead of stopping at a checkpoint, the vehicle fled which prompted a police chase.
Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), however, revealed that according to its forensic examination, Santillan may have been “tortured” before he was killed.
“Sa tingin po namin noong buhay pa siya ay sinasaksak siya, multiple puncture wounds at binugbog si Richard at may mga tama rin po sa kanyang ulo si Richard (We think that when he was still alive, he was stabbed as there were multiple puncture wounds, Richard was also beaten, and he has hits on his head),” PAO forensics chief, Dr. Erwin Erfe said.
“Consistent po iyon na inilagay siya sa kotse at doon binaril pero at that time mukhang patay na siya because there is no more tissue reaction (It was consistent, he was placed inside the car and was shot there but at that time, it looks like he was already dead because there is no more tissue reaction),” he added.
Chong had also denied the allegation of the police that his security aide, who was working for him for 11 years, was part of a crime group.
Panelo, in his statement, said “serious accusations” were made against some of the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (Calabarzon) police in connection to Santillan’s killing.
“Let the chips fall as they may. As we know by now, PRRD does not condone erring men in uniform who grossly violate the law,” the spokesman stressed.
Similar to the killing of AKO Bicol Representative Rodel Batocabe who was shot dead after he attended a gift-giving event in Daraga in Albay, Panelo said Duterte “has the same commitment of getting justice done” for the victim’s family and friends.
Following the incident, Calabarzon Police Regional Director Chief, Superintendent Edward Carranza relieved Rizal provincial director Senior Superintendent Lou Evangelista and Cainta chief of police, Superintendent Pablito Naganag from their posts “to ensure impartiality and preclude any suspicion of undue influence” of the two officials in the ongoing administrative investigation of the Rizal Provincial Internal Affairs Service.