4 CALOOCAN COPS IN 2016 DRUG BUST KILLINGS FOUND GUILTY OF HOMICIDE

FOUR members of the Caloocan City Police Station on Tuesday were found guilty of homicide over the killing of a man and his teenager son in an anti-illegal drugs operation in 2016.

The Caloocan Regional Trial Court Branch 121 found Police Master Sergeant Virgilio Servantes, and Police Corporals Arnel De Guzman, Johnston Alacre, and Argemio Saguros Jr. guilty of killing Luis Bonifacio and his son 19-year-old son Gabriel Lois in September 2016.

The four cops were sentenced to six to 10 years imprisonment.

They were also ordered to pay P100,000 for actual, moral, and temperate damages, and civil indemnity.

Court records showed that the Bonifacios were killed by officers who came to the victims’ residence to conduct a “buy-bust operation” on Sept. 15, 2016.

According to Luis’ wife, cops carrying long guns arrived to their house and went upstairs.

The widow said she and the rest of the family were forcibly ordered to go down.

The elder Bonifacio was ordered to kneel while Gabriel repeatedly begged for their lives.

Autopsy reports showed the elder Bonifacio sustained gunshots while the son was shot three times.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla welcomed the conviction of the four police officers which he said was a proof that the country’s justice system exists and working.

“This conviction is a milestone in our criminal justice system, a testament to the government’s unwavering efforts to safeguarding human rights in the pursuit of justice and a clear proof of a functioning justice system,” Remulla in a press statement said.

 “This serves as a reminder to abusive police officers that no one is above the law, justice will eventually catch up with them,” he said. 

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the four cops have faced administrative charges and were penalized with one-year suspensions over the case.