NBI says six Bulacan cops liable for murder, kidnapping

August 12, 2020

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) asked the Department of Justice has been asked to prosecute 11 policemen, including the head of the Intelligence Section and Drug Enforcement Unit in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan for kidnapping and murder charges as they allegedly detained six men and killing two  in a reportedly bogus illegal drugs operation.

In a complaint filed with the DOJ, the National Bureau of Investigation – Death Investigation Division Wednesday accused Police Major Leo Dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police-San Jose del Monte Intelligence Section/city DEU of committing kidnapping and serious illegal detention with murder.

Also charged by the NBI were Police Staff Sergeants (SSgt) Benjie Enconado, Jayson Legaspi, Irwin Joy Yuson, and Edmund Catubay Jr.; Police Corporals Jay Marc Leoncio, Herbert Hernandez, Raymond Bayan, and Paul Malgapo; and Patrolman (Pat) Erwin Sabido and Rusco Madla, who are all operatives of the Intel/CDEU of CSJDM,

The respondents were also accused of violating Section 38, Article V of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act; and Section 29, Article II of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The NBI said they found sufficient basis to hold the policemen liable for the deaths of Erwin Mergal and Jim Joshua Cordero, who were allegedly abducted along with Edmar Asprin, Richard Salgado, Chamberlain Domingo, and Chadwin Santos last Feb. 13.

The NBI filed the case in behalf of the complainants Jasmin,  the widow of Mergal; and Rochill,  mother of Cordero.

The bureau’s investigation showed that on the evening of Feb. 13, the PNP operatives reportedly took from Towerville, Barangay Santo Cristo, San Jose del Monte the six victims without legal basis and brought them to the San Jose del Monte  Police Office on board a white van.

The NBI said the victims were reportedly blindfolded and hogtied, and placed inside a room in the intelligence office of the police station, instead of undergoing booking and documentation.

The police spot report said Mergal and Cordero were killed at around 12:30 a.m. of Feb. 18 in a buy-bust operation in a dark and secluded area along Pacolis Road, Barangay Gaya-Gaya, San Jose del Monte. DMS