Pubdate: Sat, 14 Dec 2002
Source: Cebu Daily News  (Philippines)
Copyright: 2002sCebu Daily News
Contact:  http://www.cebudailynews.com.ph/metro5.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1723
Author: Tonton A. Antogop, Jhunnex Napallacan and Wenna A. Berondo
Note: With reports from Correspondent Jolene R. Bulambot and Doris C. Bongcac

BLOODY MISTAKE

THE sports manager of Plantation Bay Resort and four other employees were 
seriously injured when 12 NBI agents fired at the L-300 van they were 
riding in Mandaue City early dawn yesterday.

Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were hot on the 
heels of a drug suspect whom they suspected to be aboard the van.

But the suspect was not among the victims.

NBI 7 Director Romulo Manapsal refrained from presenting to the media the 
drug suspect's alleged cohort, a woman whom he said the agents arrested 
before the chase started in barangay Looc, Mandaue City.

"It was like a massacre," a witness told police investigators, saying the 
agents fired upon the employees of Plantation Bay Resort even after they 
stopped their van and were getting off to surrender.

Of the five injured workers, resort sports manager Michael Monsod, a nephew 
of former Comelec chair Christian Monsod, remained in critical condition as 
of press time because was hit on the head, left arm, back and right leg.

His father, Manila City Attorney Melchor Monsod, who flew to Cebu upon 
learning of the incident, vowed to file charges against the agents because 
" there was obviously an intent to kill."

Monsod made the statement to Cebu Daily News after looking at the resort's 
bullet-riddled green Mitsubishi L-300 van with plate number GPN 762.

Aside from Monsod, 32, wounded were Nenette Castillon, 30, spa supervisor; 
Carlo Cajoles, 24, sports attendant; Sunshine Gregorio, 24, PR associate 
and; Don Enabe, laundry attendant.

Alfie Fernandez, sports coordinator, sustained minor wounds from splinters.

The victims were first brought by the agents to Vicente Gullas Memorial 
Hospital but were later transferred to Chong Hua Hospital.

Director Manapsal identified five of his men who participated in the 
operation-lawyer Angelito Magno and special investigators Arnel Pura, 
Danilo Garay, Rey Tumalon and Teodoro Saavedra.

PNP crime lab officer Myrna Areola and her staff counted 73 bullet holes in 
various parts of the van, three tires of which were also busted.

Cebu and Mandaue police recovered several empty shells from the scene-14 of 
.45 caliber, three of .38 caliber, six of 9mm caliber, one .357 caliber, 
three of .40 caliber and two of M16 rifles.

The five agents surrendered their firearms-9 mm and .45 caliber pistols-for 
ballistics exams.

But observers suspected some NBI civilian agents (CAs) participated because 
there were shells of different caliber recovered.

A radio reporter who is also a CA admitted to joining the operation but 
would not say if he joined in the shooting.

Shot

Fernandez said that at around 2:10 a.m., they were travelling near Gullas 
Academy in Mandaue City with Monsod behind the wheel. They had come from a 
birthday party for Monsod, who offered to chauffeur them home.

Suddenly, their van was shot at by several men onboard two cars-a blue 
Nissan pick up and a black Starex van. Thinking they were being chased by 
robbers, Monsod drove faster but the two cars tailed them and the 
passengers continued to shoot.

"We were hit one after the other so we sped towards the nearest hospital. I 
could hear my co-workers shout in pain,  'I was hit'," he told radio dyLA.

On reaching A.S. Fortuna corner Foodland in Banilad, Cebu City, Monsod had 
to stop after the bullets damaged three of the van's tires.

According to Fernandez, they shouted at the men to stop shooting but they 
were never heard. Instead, the men disembarked from their cars and 
scattered themselves as if they were about to round up suspected criminals.

After learning they were surrendering, the agents approached the van and 
opened its door. The agents then opened fire at the passengers "even if 
they already saw that we were wounded," Fernandez said.

His account was collaborated by bystanders who told police that it was like 
a "massacre" because the agents shot the victims even after seeing that 
they were armless and already wounded.

Fernandez said they learned that their attackers were NBI agents when they 
saw a yellow "NBI" print on the shirts of some.

Same Van

Manapsal said his men went after the resort workers because their van 
"matched " the description of the one owned by a drug suspect they were 
pursuing at the time.

He identified their subject as Roberto Hegremosa alias Obet. They got the 
information after arresting a woman, "Emy", for possessing 100 grams of shabu.

Manapsal refused to comment whether the incident was a case of mistaken 
identity.

"I want to know all the facts first. The operation was legitimate," he 
insisted, adding that he has tasked agent and lawyer Arturo Rubinol to 
investigate.

Manapsal also claimed Saavedra was hurt after Monsod tried to run the agent 
over when he asked the workers to disembark.

But Saavedra did not have any visible injury and failed to present any 
medical certificate.

As to the fate of the five organic members, they will not be allowed to 
participate in future operations, Manapsal promised.

Mayor Tomas Osmea said he felt terrible about the incident, which he said 
was "equivalent to a nightmare."

"But let's not get into statements that will imply malicious intentions on 
their (agents) part. Let the truth unfold. I will monitor this," he said.

Osmea said he was told that Malacaang officials have been informed of the 
incident.
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MAP posted-by: Beth