5th cop in Manila ‘rubout’ surrenders

The fifth policeman accused of “rubbing out” a suspected robber in Sampaloc last Tuesday surrendered yesterday.

Police Officer 1 Rhoel Landrito was the last among a group of five police officers from the Gulod police precinct to surface. Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Rolando Nana said he showed up at the MPD headquarters yesterday morning.

Landrito, together with his superior Senior Inspector Rommel Salazar, chief of Gulod police precinct, and colleagues Police Office 3 Ferdinand Valera and Police Officers 1 Ronald Dipacina and Domar Landoy will be restricted to the MPD holding unit.

The five policemen were charged with murder before the city prosecutor of Manila for allegedly killing Robin Villarosa, 24, in fake shootout.

The official report submitted by Sampaloc police station commander Superintendent Mannan Muarip’s office to the MPD said Salazar’s men encountered and killed an alleged robber in a shootout.

Surveillance footage, however, showed Villarosa had his hands in the air when one of the policemen shot him in the head twice.

The police were also accused of planting a gun beside Villarosa’s body to bolster their claims.

With their surrender, the administrative case against them can officially proceed. Nana said the grave misconduct case filed against them will be heard by the Philippine National Police (PNP) internal affairs office.

‘Law applies to all’

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II commended the PNP for working hard to resolve the case and “to show the public that the law applies to all, whether you are a politician or a police officer.”

Roxas, who went to Villarosa’s wake, told the robbery suspect’s family that other agencies will help them.

The Department of Education will help with the expenses of Villarosa’s children, four-yearold Lawrence and 10-month-old Andrea, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development will shoulder the expenses of Villarosa’s funeral.

Roxas added that he has received numerous offers from people who want to provide aid for the Villarosas and that a mechanism will be soon set up for the family.

Some groups, however, criticized Roxas for apparently ignoring the plight of the people Villarosa has reportedly robbed.

Minutes before Villarosa was shot dead, he and an accomplice reportedly robbed barangay councilman Steven de Leon.

The councilman, in a television interview, condemned the filing of charges against police officers who do their jobs.