MANILA -- The Eastern Police District (QCPD) has filed charges against the suspects in the killing of a police officer assigned with the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) last month.
In a statement on Thursday, EPD director Chief Supt. Bernabe Balba said murder charges were filed against Julius Panis, Aaron Paul Panis, Amiel Paul Panis and Alex Melendres, all of legal ages and residents of Melendres Compound, Pag-asa St., Barangay Caniogan, Pasig City, for killing PO2 Manuel Melendres III last November 29.
The charges were formally filed before the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office on Monday.
Based on the findings of the Special Investigation Task Group “Melendres”, the suspects were positively identified by Shirley Melendres, the wife of the victim's, as the persons physically present and had conversation at the dim part of Melendres Compound when the lights of her Starex van flashed at their direction.
Shirely said after her husband alighted from their vehicle, she suddenly heard successive gunshots and saw her husband fell on the ground.
She rushed towards her husband and saw the suspect, Julius Panis, about a few meters away, still aiming his rifle towards their house.
Shirley added that the victim's long standing feud against the family of Julius Panis and the dispute over the distribution of lots in the said compound and other inherited estates from their ancestor were the possible motives of the killing.
Meanwhile, Julius Panis and Aaron Paul Panis were arrested by elements of CIDG Eastern and Pasig City Police Station last December 12 through the implementation of a search warrant on their house at Melendres Compound for violation of Republic Act 10591 (illegal possession of firearms) and RA 9561 (unlawful possession of explosive).
They are currently detained at the Pasig City Police Station Detention Cell while the two other suspects are still at large. (PNA)
