Pubdate: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 Source: Freeman, The (Philippines) Copyright: 2004 The Freeman Contact: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3437 Website: http://www.thefreeman.com Author: Ryan P. Borinaga Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.) CALIMLIM BACKS CAMOTES COPS IN DRUG SUSPECT SLAY Provincial Police director Maximo Calimlim yesterday defended the four policemen who are now facing charges at the Ombudsman for the killing of a suspected drug pusher in San Francisco town, Camotes Island last July 10. The National Bureau of Investigation last Monday filed criminal and administrative charges against PO3 Tiburcio Heramil, and PO2s Reynaldo Solante, Epifanio Gonzaga Jr., and Rodrigo Ugria - all policemen of that town in Camotes. The NBI had alleged that these policemen had conspired, acted with treachery, and took advantage of their superior strength when they gunned down suspect Remigio Arias while reportedly about to surrender to them. Calimlim backed the action of the policemen saying the drug bust operation was legitimate, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and that Arias was a noted pusher whose areas of operation were Lapu-Lapu City and Camotes Island. He said the town officials had requested the Provincial Intelligence and Investigation Branch to arrest Arias because authorities there were already burned out. The filing of the case against these policemen had demoralized these policemen who maintained that they were just doing their job at the time of the shooting, said Calimlim. One of the accused, Heramil, said however that the charges did not demoralize him since he takes these as hazards of the job. His only apprehension is their fate on the case once Calimlim finally leaves his provincial post next month. The beleaguered policemen would be provided legal assistance and that lawyer Pedro Leslie Salva has been eyed to handle their defense, Calimlim said. Calimlim said he would even recommend Heramil as an awardee for good performance during the anniversary of the National Police Commission next month. Record at the town's police station showed that Arias first fired Solante but missed prompting the latter to return fire that hit the suspect on the leg. When Solante ordered Arias to surrender, the suspect fired another shot instead, forcing Solante to retaliate and eventually kill Arias. Seized from Arias were two big plastic packs of shabu, a .45-caliber pistol and the buy-bust money, the police report stated further. But witnesses had a different story to the NBI. They claimed that Arias was having a drinking spree with his friends in barangay Sta. Cruz but when he spotted the arriving policemen he got alarmed and fled. However, the policemen caught up with Arias and, while shouting invectives against him, they allegedly shot him in various parts of his body. Arias at the time was already on his knees with his hands up in the air, in a gesture of surrender, said the witnesses.