NBI FILES HOMICIDE CASE VS. COUNCILOR’S DRIVER
But the National Bureau of Investigation 7 is also set to file an attempted murder case against Michael Banua, the civilian asset who drove the motorcycle that PO3 Eugene Calumba was riding, when the officer was gunned down.
Police team tries to take custody of Barangay Councilor Jessielou Cadungog and his driver-bodyguard William Macaslang Jr. while inside the Cebu City prosecutor’s office, but NBI holds on to the duo.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 filed yesterday a homicide case against the bodyguard-driver of Tejero Barangay Councilor Jessielou Cadungog.
Lawyer Patricio Bernales Jr., NBI 7 chief, filed the complaint against William Macaslang Jr. before the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor.
Heavily armed NBI 7 agents escorted Macaslang and Cadungog when the respondent underwent inquest proceedings before Prosecutor Maria Theresa Casiño.
A brief standoff also ensued between the NBI 7 and operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 after several policemen stormed the prosecutor’s office in a bid to take custody of Macaslang and Cadungog.
But after reaching a “consensus,” the CIDG 7 agreed to let Macaslang and Cadungog remain in the NBI 7’s custody.
Amando Virgil Ligutan, one of the lawyers of Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, said it was normal for the respondents to insist on remaining in the NBI 7 stockade since the man Macaslang shot was a policeman.
The NBI 7 is also set to file an attempted murder case against Michael Banua, the civilian asset who drove the motorcycle that PO3 Eugene Calumba was riding, when the officer was gunned down.
The NBI 7 will present at least seven witnesses to support the filing of an attempted murder complaint against Banua.
In the charge sheet for the homicide case, the NBI 7 chief said that Cadungog instructed his driver, Macaslang, to have his Toyota FJ Cruiser refueled in a gasoline station on T. Padilla Ext., Cebu City around 7:45 a.m. last July 30.
Followed
Macaslang said he noticed from the rearview mirror the two men following him on one motorcycle.
Macaslang said his suspicion grew when the duo moved to the driver’s side despite the limited space there because of an ongoing road construction.
When the motorcycle was almost beside the driver’s side, Macaslang said, he noticed that the back rider pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed at the driver’s side.
Macaslang said he reached for the firearm Cadungog had left on the passenger’s seat and shot the back rider.
He said that the motorcycle rider moved to the front of the vehicle and attempted to shoot him. But Macaslang said he fired at the motorcycle driver, which prompted the latter to flee.
Several tanods of Barangay Tejero caught up with the motorcycle driver, later identified as Banua.
Macaslang, accompanied by Cadungog, surrendered to the NBI 7 after what they considered an ambush attempt.
Macaslang said he acted in self-defense, considering that Cadungog had received death threats prior to the ambush.
The NBI also retrieved footage from security cameras near the crime scene.
Proof of EJK?
“Daghan-daghan sad pero sumpay-sumpay ba. To a certain extent, medyo magamit siya pero di gud kaayo siya totally reliable (There were several but these have to be patched together. It may be useful but it’s not totally reliable),” Bernales said.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) 7, according to an official, is contemplating on conducting their own inquiry.
“Based on the initial facts, a police officer is involved allegedly in an attempt to kill Councilor Cadungog. We can link it in case there’s proof that the government is involved in EJKs or the government tolerated or by acquiescence allowed the killings,” said Atty. Arvin Odron, CHR regional director.
Odron said that the case might be the first in the region that will guide their investigation.
“But we cannot conclude,” Odron said.