PRO-6 welcomes charges vs Defensor, 5 others in twin slays

By Jennifer P. Rendon

If the families of the controversial January 2020 twin murder victims want to get the truth, so does the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).

The Western Visayas’ police command issued the statement after its fourth highest ranking official, Colonel Martin Defensor, and five other non-commissioned officers were hauled to court for the murder of suspected drug personality Alain Muller and businessman Delfin Britanico on Jan. 19, 2020.

Defensor, current Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) chief of staff, was Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director when the incidents happened.

“Col. Defensor is still our chief regional staff. PRO-6 is also after the truth in all these allegations,” PRO-6, through its spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, said in a statement.

She said they welcome the “filing of the case since it would be the best venue where the respondents could also present their sides and defend themselves.”

“Let the investigation of the prosecution office roll so that we will all know the truth,” Malong said.

Delfin’s father, former party-list representative and assemblyman Salvador “Buddy” Britanico, earlier confirmed that his family and Muller’s widow have filed separate charges against the six personnel.

Britanico said Defensor was deemed accessory to the crime in the death of his son Delfin.

On the other hand, Police Corporal Joseph Andrew Joven, Staff Sergeant Ricardo Morante, Master Sergeant Vernie Escorial , Staff Sergeant Michael De Felipe, and Staff Sergeant Freddie Libo-on were charged for the complex crime of robbery with homicide.

Meanwhile, in the case of Muller, Defensor was charged with murder, along with the five policemen, who were implicated in Delfin’s killing.

“As announced by Cong. Britanico, he had filed the criminal charges at the Prosecutor’s office, but this was not received by the concerned personnel yet,” Malong said.

On the administrative side, it was gathered that the Britanico family has not filed any complaint relative to their allegations, which should have been the basis for PRO-6 basis to initiate investigation.

But it is worthy to note that a presidential “authorization” is needed for an administrative investigation to proceed against Defensor because he is deemed as a “presidential appointee” owing to his rank.

“Nevertheless, whatever would be the findings of the prosecution and later on the court, we would be implementing that decision,” Malong said.

In the meantime, she said that concerned personnel should be given their time to answer to the complaint filed against them.

“PRO-6 remains true to our statement that we will not tolerate any misdeed of our personnel. Respect for human rights and upholding the rule of law has always been our priority in the performance of our duties,” Malong said.

The charges stemmed from two separate shooting incidents in Iloilo City.

Muller, a call center and a drug surrenderer, was peppered with bullets at 12:00 noon of Jan. 19 at Locsin Street in Barangay Cuartero, Jaro district.

Thirty minutes later, then 36-year-old Britanico, a resident of Mirasol Subdivision, Dicen Street, La Paz, was shot dead at Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz.

Police initially handled the case until Britanico’s family sought the help of the NBI.

But lately, the Britanico family dissociated from the NBI and filed the case against the policemen in July 2021.