Eleazar vows justice for cop killed in Cavite anti-drug ops
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar yesterday vowed justice for a policeman shot dead by heavily-armed drug traffickers during a buy-bust operation in Dasmariñas City in Cavite on Tuesday night.
The top cop said he has ordered a massive pursuit operation against the suspects who killed Staff Sergeant Karl Marty Manzanilla.
“I have already directed the Regional Director of Police Regional Office 4-A, Brigadier Gen. Ely Cruz to do everything in his power to hold those responsible for the death of PSSgt Karl Marty Manzanilla accountable,” Eleazar said.
“Hindi ako papayag na hindi makamit ng pamilya ni PSSgt Manzanilla ang katarungan kaya tinitiyak ko sa kanila na mananagot ang may mga gawa nito,” he added.
The suspects identified as Marlon Pacia, Jun-Jun Javier and Jomarie Pacia were able to flee at the height of the operation. Four of their cohorts identified as Esabel Cadag, Jemuel Pillar, John Pacia and John Lloyd Pacia were arrested in a hot pursuit.
A report from the Cavite Police Provincial Office said the suspects sensed they were transacting with undercover police operatives in Bgy. Salawag last Tuesday night prompting one of them, later identified as Pacia, to pull out a concealed caliber .45 pistol and shoot Manzanilla and another police agent, Patrolman Ariel Maribojo.
The two policemen were rushed by their colleagues to the Dasmariñas City Medical Center where an attending physician declared Manzanilla dead upon arrival.
Eleazar said the incident only proved that drug suspects would really fight back against authorities and kill them just to evade arrest, contrary to various claims that they are among the victims of the war against illegal drugs.
“Ang nangyaring madugong engkwentro sa Cavite ay pagpapatunay lamang na palaban at seryoso ang banta ng mga nagtutulak ng droga at isa sa mga napakaraming patunay na hindi maaamong tupa at mga biktima ng umano’y human rights abuses ang mga ito na gaya ng gustong palabasin ng iba,” the top cop said.
The arrested suspects will be facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, while the wanted suspects will be charged for murder, frustrated murder and direct assault upon an agent of a person in authority.
The PNP chief maintained that in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the police force will remain relentless in enforcing the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
