Fake plates seized from car used in radioman’s slay

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police in Negros Oriental seized two fake license plates from a pick-up truck owned by one of the four suspects tagged in the killing of radio broadcaster Dindo Generoso in Dumaguete City early this month.

Armed with a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Gerardo Paguio Jr. in Dumaguete City, authorities opened on Wednesday the Mitsubitshi Strada owned by Tomasino Aledro, an alleged financier of Small Town Lottery (STL) in the province.

The pick-up truck was found in a secluded area at Barangay West Balabag, Valencia town last week, few days after Generoso’s killing on November 7.

Police Colonel Julian Entoma, director of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo), said they opened the vehicle to check for latent prints which might help them in their investigation.

But they failed to extract latent prints, and the only significant thing they recovered from the vehicle which can be added as evidence in the murder case were two improvised license plates (FAX 5801), aside from other personal belongings.

“Idadagdag namin ito sa aming ebidensya. Bakit may pekeng plaka? Baka intentional na ginawa yun, na puwedeng may conspiracy din iyong may-ari,” Entoma said.

He said that the recovered fake license plates matched the license plate captured in the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage near the crime scene.

Aledro’s brother-in-law Teddy Salaw was the alleged driver of the said pick-up truck, where Patrolman Roger Rubio was riding before he transferred to a motorcycle allegedly driven by retired Police Corporal Glenn Corsame.

Rubio was earlier accused as the alleged gunman in the killing.

The Norppo director said they have no lead yet on the whereabouts of Aledro, adding that they will just wait for the issuance of an arrest warrant for his apprehension.

Corsame and Salaw are now in police custody while Rubio surrendered to the authorities, a week after the incident happened.

Entoma said Rubio is currently restricted and under the Personnel Holding Action Section at the Norppo headquarters while he is facing pre-charge investigation.

He said Rubio denied the accusations against him, though he admitted knowing Salaw and Corsame.

He said Rubio was previously charged for homicide and frustrated homicide in 1991 after he got involved in a commotion in Toledo City, Cebu province.

Rubio was released on probation in 1998 and also went absent without official leave (Awol) in the same year, he said.

Rubio appealed to return to the police service in 1999 where he was sanctioned a demotion of two ranks, making him a Patrolman, he added.

Entoma also said it is up to Generoso’s wife if she will file grave misconduct charges against Rubio for his administrative offense.