Cop linked to Britanico slay proclaims innocence, seeks justice for smeared name

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Police Staff Sergeant Michael Demegillo de Felipe said that he remained true to the PNP’s mandate “to serve and to protect.”

“Indi ko ya kriminal. Nagapangdakop ko ya kriminal,” de Felipe said in a press conference on Thursday.

De Felipe, represented by his legal counsel Hernando Galvez, was one of the six police officers implicated in the killing of businessman Delfin Britanico on January 19, 2020.

Just like Britanico’s family, the policeman claimed he also wanted justice after he was allegedly wrongfully accused.

“I sympathize with them. Ako subong nagapangayo man ko sang hustisya sa pag-implicate sang ngalan ko sa krimen nga natabo sa ila,” he said.

De Felipe said he did not know Britanico until the latter was killed.

On May 29, the National Bureau of Investigation filed murder and theft charges against Police Corporals Jerry Villanueva, Joseph Andrew Joven, and two unidentified suspects.

Joven surrendered to the NBI and applied to be a state witness.

The NBI earlier identified Joven as the driver of the Mitsubishi Adventure used in the killing of the businessman.

Months later, he also implicated Police Staff Sergeant Ricardo Cabrera Morante, Police Master Sergeant Vernie Lui Escorial, Police Staff Sergeant Freddie Hibalo Libo-on, and de Felipe.

The said officers were already relieved from their post and reassigned to the PNP Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU).

Based on records, de Felipe is assigned to the Iloilo City Police Station 2; Escorial is with the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) headquarters sentinel; Morante is with ICPS1; and Libo-on is with the Dumangas Police Station.

Joven named Morante and Escorial as the gunmen in his sworn statement which was filed together with his application to be a state witness with the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Department of Justice in Ermita, Manila.

Morante was allegedly the one who shot Britanico while Escorial finished off the victim.

De Felipe and Libo-on were allegedly in the vehicle when the killing happened.

But for de Felipe, Joven’s statement is that of a “koging,” or someone high on illegal drugs.

When the incident happened, “my partner was at the hospital giving birth to our unica hija,” he said.

De Felipe said his common-law wife was giving birth at the Metro Iloilo Hospital and Medical Center in Barangay Tagbak, Jaro, Iloilo City when Britanico was killed.

Delfin was killed afternoon of January 19, 2020 at Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz district.

He said he has witnesses and documents to prove he was at the hospital and nowhere near the crime scene.

But when asked who could corroborate his statement aside from family members, de Felipe said he would present witnesses and evidence in the proper forum.

“May makatindog nga testigo nga makapamatuod sang akon kakapoy, kalipay, kag excitement sang amo na nga adlaw,” he said.

The 36-year-old de Felipe said he decided to come out to clear his name for his family and child’s honor.

In his 10 years of service, he said he had been pro-life.

He cited the awards and commendations he received and that he had no pending administrative and criminal case until Joven accused him.

 

NOT FRIENDS WITH JOVEN

When asked what drove Joven to implicate him, de Felipe theorized that the former harbored a grudge against him.

De Felipe and Libo-on used to be members of ICPO City Drug Enforcement Unit.

While he knew Morante and Escorial, de Felipe said he was not close with them.

He described Joven as “koging” or high on drugs.

“Nagalutaw na sya pirme. Ang attitude sang naga-droga nga tawo, makita mo gid sa iya nga personalidad. Koging gid ya,” he added.

De Felipe admitted that he was one of those who advised their superior officer to have Joven tested for illegal drug use.

“Isa kami sa naghutik nga ipa-drug test sya. Bantog nga kuging na sya,” he said.

De Felipe claimed that Joven might be getting back at them or he was possibly “hallucinating.”

Joven, who was assigned at the ICPO Holding and Accounting Unit, has not reported to work sometime in March 2020 when the ICPO was doing random drug test on its personnel.

He was later charged for AWOL and failure to undergo drug test.

When asked for his message to Joven, “Koging ka. Atubanga ko. Atubanga ang pag guba mo sa pamilya ko,” de Felipe said.