The Philippine National Police (PNP) filed on Wednesday supplemental murder charges against nine suspects believed to be involved in the ambush-slay a week ago of lawyer Eric Jay Magcamit in Narra, Palawan.
Among those indicted was Police Senior M/Sgt. Ariel Pareja, who is now under restrictive custody at the Palawan Police Provincial Office.
Also named respondents before the Palawan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office were Jazer del Rosario, Marcelino Quioyo and six other John Does.
In his report to PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas, Mimaropa police director Brig. Gen. Pascual Muñoz said Pareja has been moonlighting as a bodyguard for Quioyo, who is involved in a court case over a land dispute where Magcamit is representing the other party.
Muñoz said administrative charges are also being prepared against Pareja based on his indictment in the murder case.
Magcamit was on his way to attend a court hearing in the town of Quezon, Palawan, on November 17 when he was gunned down by gunmen riding a motorcycle.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines earlier called on the police to investigate the murder and arrest those who are responsible.
Meanwhile, a senior police sergeant was arrested by the PNP anti-corruption unit for charging P20,000 for the release of a car that was involved in an accident.
Police Chief M/Sgt. Mendy Gutierrez of Taguig Police Station 1 Vehicular Traffic Investigation Section was arrested by agents of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) and operatives of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) in an entrapment operation after he received P20,000 in exchange for the release of an impounded car that was involved in accident.
Acting on the complaint of a foreigner who was involved in the crash incident, HPG and IMEG operatives initiated the entrapment operation against Gutierrez.
The complainant said he was earlier forced to pay P500,000 to purportedly settle the medical expenses of the car crash victim.
Later, the complainant was again coerced to pay P20,000 for alleged traffic “fines” and penalties related to the incident.