3 Surigao policemen tagged in Spanish businessman’s killing in 2020 surrender

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said the trial of the three policemen charged with murder for their alleged involvement in the killing of Spanish businessman Diego Bello Lafuente can now proceed following their surrender to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The policemen identified as Police Capt. Wise Vicente Panuelos, Police Sgts. Ronel Pazo and Nido Boy Cortes were presented to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla by Police Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat on Thursday, February 9.

The accused have gone into hiding following the filing of murder charges and the issuance of arrest warrants against them by the Regional Trial Court of Surigao del Norte.

During their brief meeting, Remulla asked the policemen for an account of the events leading up to the killing of Lafuente.

He also informed them of the gravity of the case they are facing considering the international attention it has garnered.

With the surrender of the accused, Remulla said, the courts will now have jurisdiction over them, and will be able to continue the trial of Lafuente’s case.

“This is a very welcome development in this case. We are now able to move forward and try the case and deliver justice in a case that has transcended borders,” Remulla said.

Lafuente’s death took place in 2020 at the height of the bloody anti-illegal drug war of the Duterte administration.

The government of spain, through its Office of the Consult General in Manila, pushed for a deeper probe into Lafuente’s death, prompting the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to take over the case.

In November 2021, the NBI recommended to the DOJ the filing of murder, planting of evidence and perjury charges against the three policemen who were then assigned at the General Luna Municipal Police Station (MPS), Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte.

Based on the NBI’S investigation report, operatives from the General Luna MPS led by Panuelos, and members of the 1302nd Regional Mobile Force Battalion 13 met on January 7, 2020 to plan the buybust operation against Lafuente after an informant claimed he was able to buy cocaine from him.

Lafuente was reportedly tagged by the General Luna MPS as the no.1 drug personality in the Caraga Region.

In the operation, Pazo was designated as the poseur buyer, while Cortes would be the arresting officer/ searcher.

According to the accounts of witnesses, in the early morning of January 8, neighbors of Lafuente were awakened by a series of loud explosions, which were believed to be gunshots.

After the gunshots, it was only then that they heard someone warning people not to go out as a buy-bust operation was in progress.

Witnesses said they later saw Lafuente’s body being carried by four men from over the perimeter wall toward an ambulance.

Based on reports, police operatives were able to recover from the scene 10 grams of cocaine, marked money worth P30,000 and a caliber.45 pistol.

Lafuente was brought to Siargao Island District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.