CALIMLIM BACKS CAMOTES COPS IN DRUG SUSPECT SLAY

Provincial Police director Maximo Calimlim yesterday defended the four
policemen who are now facing charges at the Ombudsman for the killing
of a suspected drug pusher in San Francisco town, Camotes Island last
July 10.

The National Bureau of Investigation last Monday filed criminal and
administrative charges against PO3 Tiburcio Heramil, and PO2s Reynaldo
Solante, Epifanio Gonzaga Jr., and Rodrigo Ugria - all policemen of
that town in Camotes.

The NBI had alleged that these policemen had conspired, acted with
treachery, and took advantage of their superior strength when they
gunned down suspect Remigio Arias while reportedly about to surrender
to them.

Calimlim backed the action of the policemen saying the drug bust
operation was legitimate, in coordination with the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency, and that Arias was a noted pusher whose areas of
operation were Lapu-Lapu City and Camotes Island.

He said the town officials had requested the Provincial Intelligence
and Investigation Branch to arrest Arias because authorities there
were already burned out.

The filing of the case against these policemen had demoralized these
policemen who maintained that they were just doing their job at the
time of the shooting, said Calimlim.

One of the accused, Heramil, said however that the charges did not
demoralize him since he takes these as hazards of the job. His only
apprehension is their fate on the case once Calimlim finally leaves
his provincial post next month.

The beleaguered policemen would be provided legal assistance and that
lawyer Pedro Leslie Salva has been eyed to handle their defense,
Calimlim said.

Calimlim said he would even recommend Heramil as an awardee for good
performance during the anniversary of the National Police Commission
next month.

Record at the town's police station showed that Arias first fired
Solante but missed prompting the latter to return fire that hit the
suspect on the leg. When Solante ordered Arias to surrender, the
suspect fired another shot instead, forcing Solante to retaliate and
eventually kill Arias.

Seized from Arias were two big plastic packs of shabu, a .45-caliber
pistol and the buy-bust money, the police report stated further.

But witnesses had a different story to the NBI. They claimed that
Arias was having a drinking spree with his friends in barangay Sta.
Cruz but when he spotted the arriving policemen he got alarmed and
fled.

However, the policemen caught up with Arias and, while shouting
invectives against him, they allegedly shot him in various parts of
his body. Arias at the time was already on his knees with his hands up
in the air, in a gesture of surrender, said the witnesses.