Police yesterday filed murder and frustrated murder charges against three government militiamen before the City Prosecutor’s Office in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, for the recent ambush-slay of an hacienda overseer, and injuries to his companion.

Supt. Jomil John Trio, Victorias police chief, yesterday said the respondents, identified as CAFGU members Arnel Catimbang, Efren Las Pinas and Arturo Endrino, all assigned at the 12th Infantry Battalion’s Ining detachment in Manapla, are now in jail, after their arrest last week.

Trio said the three were positively identified by Norberto Opinion, a survivor of the ambush, as the ones who opened fire at them in Brgy. 10, Victorias City, last month.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit who visited the 3rd Infantry Division troops in Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia, yesterday said it is very clear in the policy of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that whoever commits misdemeanors will be tried in civilian courts, unless what they have done is a military offense.

“We would rather observe the normal flow of the justice system,” Bangit said.

Three other militiamen also figured in a foiled robbery of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental that led to the death of two, while the other one gave himself up to the police.

Col. Maximo Caro, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the three CAFGU members linked to the ambush-slay in Victorias City, will face dismissal from the military service.

Catimbang, Las Pinas and Endrino were endorsed to the Victorias City Police Station by the 12th IB, for their alleged involvement in the death of hacienda overseer Romeo Ledesma on Sept. 30.

Opinion, who survived the ambush-slay, was riding a motorcycle in tandem with Ledesma, when they were shot, police records show.

Trio said they are still waiting for the results of the paraffin tests conducted on the three CAFGUs by the PNP Crime Laboratory.

He also said the three may have been hired by somebody to kill Ledesma.

During investigation at the Victorias City police station headquarters, the three denied participation to the ambush-slay of Ledesma, Trio added.

Police investigations also showed that the ambush-slay may have been triggered by old grudges.*GPB

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