3 cops told to answer murder raps over Spanish trader’s death
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has subpoenaed three Surigao del Norte police officers to answer a murder complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation linking them to the death of a Spanish trader during an alleged gunfight with police in 2020.
Assistant State Prosecutor Honey Rose Delgado, spokesperson of the Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG), said the respondent-lawmen have been required to file their counter-affidavits on October 25, 2021.
They are: PCpt. Wise Vicente Panuelos, and policemen PSSg. Ronel Pazo and PSSg. Nido Boy Cortes, all from the General Luna Municipal Police Station.
The respondents were specifically charged with violation under Article 248 (Murder) of the Revised Penal Code (RPC); perjury under Article 183 of the RPC; and planting of evidence under Section 38 of Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act of 2013.
Spaniard Diego Lapuente was shot after he allegedly fired on police during a buy-bust operation in Barangay 3, General Luna town of Surigao del Norte.
Lapuente was allegedly on top of local police’s list of high-value targets in the anti-drug campaign.
After the supposed shootout, Lapuente was rushed to the Siargao Island District Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Seized from him were 10 grams of cocaine and a caliber .45 pistol.
