Two cops in botched Leganes murder deny claims; threaten countercharges

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The two former members of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) denied any involvement in the botched killing of a suspected robber.

In a press conference on Monday, Executive Master Sergeant Jessie Jim Rubio and Staff Sergeant Enrico Gonzales both debunked claims that they tried murdering their accuser, Glen Paloma.

Rubio said the only time he encountered Paloma was when he served an arrest warrant to the latter for robbery in 2014.

Rubio and Gonzales were charged with frustrated murder and planting of evidence, which is in violation of Section 29, Article II of the Republic Act of 9165 (Comprehensive  Dangerous Drugs Act) before the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutors Office.

Including the two cops, six suspects allegedly tried to summarily execute Paloma, who was tagged in various theft and robbery cases.

Paloma was found wounded in a rice field at Barangay Calaboa, Leganes on March 26, 2023.

But the two cops said they don’t know their co-accused nor were they at Abe’s Payag Seafood Restaurant in Pavia, Iloilo. As reported, Paloma was allegedly caught robbing the restaurant before he was found in Leganes.

The restaurant owner allegedly called his “police friends” Rubio and Gonzales to deal with the arrested robber.

But Rubio said they were home when the incident happened.

“I am 100 percent sure nga ara lang kami sa amon panimalay (when the supposed incident happened),” Rubio said.

“I don’t know what’s going on in his mind why he accused us,” he said in vernacular.

According to their legal counsel, lawyer Hernando Galvez, they gathered corroborative statements supporting his clients’ claims.

They will also present CCTV footage taken from Rubio’s house and other establishments showing that he went inside their house at 9 p.m. on March 25 and went out of their home at 8 a.m. the following day.

Paloma was found early morning of March 26.

Reports said Rubio’s camp will submit the footage to the PNP Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit for authentication.

Addressing Paloma, “siguraduhon niya lang nga kami to natudlo niya kay kung indi, balikan man namon siya sang kaso,” he said.

But Rubio and even Galvez did not go into details on what possible countercharges they would file against Paloma.

“Masakit man ulo niya. Kay gin-umpisahan niya, tapuson namon,” he said.

Meanwhile, a teary-eyed Gonzales also claimed he did not know Paloma.

With his voice cracking, he said he could not fathom why was he charged for the frustrated killing of someone he did not know.

When the incident happened, Gonzales said he was just at home because his family asked him to help them out harvesting their watermelon.

He went out of their home at 7 a.m. on March 26.

Gonzales cited that he was also tending to his 10-month son the night before Paloma was found with gunshot injuries.

MADE-UP STORIES, LIES

Galvez said the complainant is free to accuse but he should prove it.

“Libre sila mag-akusa pero dapat pamatud-an kag panindugan nila ang Ila alegasyon kay pamatud-an namon nga ang ila akusasyon himo-himo kag kabutigan,” he said.

But why his clients?

“Whatever the motive is, only Mr. Paloma knows.”

Galvez said, though, that they’re not accusing the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) of making up stories.

“Ang balasulon da si Paloma. We’re interested to know what drove him to make up stories,” he said.

Despite what happened, Galvez said that they do respect the PNP.

SHAMED

During the press conference, both Gonzales and Rubio repeatedly said that the accusations have placed them and their family in shame.

“Masakit ni sa akon. Ang mga kabataan ko dalaga kag naga eskwela sa college, gin-dungisan niya akon imahe pati na ang sa PNP,” Rubio said.

Gonzales said that what happened also tainted his reputation and that of his family.

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 has ordered the immediate relief of Gonzales and Rubio following what happened

They were ordered relieved from the Iloilo City Police Office to the Regional Personnel  Holding Accounting Section (RPHAS) effective April 14, 2023.

Even before their relief order, ICPO director Colonel Joeresty Coronica has already ordered an investigation to ascertain the administrative culpability, if any, of the two ICPO personnel assigned with the City Intelligence Unit (CIU).

He also directed the two to cease their functions as intelligence operatives.