BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO City – The two police officers tagged in an alleged failed summary execution in Barangay Calaboa, Leganes, Iloilo on March 26 vehemently denied involvement in the crime.
At the time of the supposed commission of the crime, Police Executive Master Sergeant Jessie Jim Rubio and Police Staff Sergeant Enrico Garlito Gonzales were in their respective homes, according to their legal counsel Hernando Galvez yesterday.
The cops have home security camera footages proving they were home on the night of March 26, added Atty. Galvez.
“Indi matuod nga si Rubio kag si Gonzales may involvement sa kaso. Nagpangita kami sang competent kag relevant nga ebidensiya nga magamit naton sa hukmanan para pamatud-an ang ila presensya. Bag-o kami mag-accept, nakumbinsi nila ‘ko… kag pamatud-an ini halin sa nanuhay-tuhay nga kamera nga sang pagsulod nila sa ila puluy-an sang petsa 26, alas-otso na sila sang aga nakagwa sa ila balay,” said Galvez.
Rubio and Gonzales did not even know the alleged failed summary execution victim, Glen Paloma, and other alleged suspects including the owner of Abe’s Payag Seafood Restaurant in Pavia town, added the lawyer.
However, Galvez said there were two instances that Paloma and Rubio may have met — during the time the cop performed his duty as a police officer.
“Gusto ko lang klarohon ang akon ngalan nga ginguba ni Glen Paloma kay mismo akon pamilya, akon asawa kag kabataan nahuya sa ginbuhat niya. Gin-implicate niya ngalan namon sa sini nga hitabo nga wala kami kahilabtanan. So, hulaton niya, pamatud-an niya kay amon di ya sigurado kami sa amon nga ebidensya nga 100 percent nga ara kami ‘ya sa panimalay namon,” PEMS Rubio said.
The two police officers have been reassigned to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit of Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) after they were relieved from the Iloilo City Police Office on April 14 by Brigadier General Leo Francisco, regional police director.
They were among the six suspects charged with frustrated murder and violation of Section 29 (Criminal Liability for Planting of Evidence) of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 by 39-year-old Paloma who was found hogtied and with six gunshot wounds.
The other suspects named by Paloma were John Ian Leda of Arevalo district and owner of Abe’s Payag Seafood Restaurant; the restaurant’s guard, Ricky Giluani, 28, of San Remigio, Antique; and two John Does.
Leda and Giluani could not be reached for comment as of press time./PN
