Pubdate: Thu, 22 Jul 2004
Source: Manila Standard (Philippines)
Copyright: 2004 Manila Standard
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/3450
Website: http://www.manilastandardonline.com
Author: Jing Villamente

JAYLO SUED FOR MURDER

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has filed three counts of 
murder and planting of evidence against Reynaldo Jaylo, newly appointed 
chief of the Presidential Task Force on Illegal Recruitment (PTFIR).

Charges were likewise filed before the Department of Justice against 13 of 
Jaylo's men at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency's Task Force Hunter, 
which the PTFIR chief heads in a concurrent capacity.

CIDG based its suit on the testimonies of Task Force Hunter agents led by 
Ricardo Penalosa, who said Jaylo and his men killed suspected shabu 
couriers Federico Dino and Enrique Esguerra along Padilla Street last Jan. 9.

Jaylo earlier reported the incident as a shootout resulting from a buy-bust 
operation.

"It was a rubout. Jaylo was the one who really shot and killed Dino," 
Penalosa said at a press conference in Quezon City Tuesday.

"I am calling on President (Gloria Macapagal) Arroyo to tell Jaylo not to 
touch my family. He could go after me for doing this, but please spare my 
family," Penalosa said.

The Task Force Hunter agent also accused Jaylo of trying to destroy before 
media his reputation and that of his family.

He said the PTFIR chief became the apple of the President's eye because of 
his backer, a certain Mr. Nes.

Cora Esguerra, wife of one of the victims, said her family remained silent 
about the incident because they could not rely on any witnesses.

According to Penalosa, PDEA agents including himself arrested Dino and 
Esguerra last Jan. 9, but Jaylo told them to wait before turning over the 
suspect to PDEA headquarters and fetch him from the Task Force Hunter office.

At the office, Penalosa saw Jaylo ordering Richard Elnar, a PDEA civilian 
agent, to fire his gun in the air to see if he knew how to do so.

After Penalosa took Jaylo to the suspects, the Task Force Hunter chief 
conferred with civilian agents Edgardo Castro and Cris Magsino.

The three then took Dino to their car and ordered Penalosa and his men to 
take Esguerra aboard a stolen Mitsubishi Adventure (SFD-984).

The van and car were driven to the bridge along Padilla Street. Jaylo, 
Castro and Magsino alighted from the car, leaving Dino.

Jaylo told Penalosa's men to bring Esguerra to the middle of the bridge. He 
then shot Dino and ordered Castro and agent Joseph Bernabe to shoot Esguerra.

After the shooting, Magsino told Elnar to carry the bodies, but agent 
Cecilio Garcia shot dead Elnar.

Penalosa said the President gave a scholarship grant to Elnar's children 
after Jaylo reported the incident as a legitimate drug operation.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D