2 cops, mayor’s aide face raps over ambush

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group filed criminal charges yesterday before the Department of Justice against two police officers and the bodyguards of a town mayor in Isabela over the ambush of a village chief and three members of his family last week.

The widow of Montano Zipagan, Benita, and five other witnesses identified the alleged assailants as Police Officer 3 Rogelio Cataggatan, PO1 Claramito Bibat and civilians Nelson Laggui, Ricky Boy Bautista, Edzel Sibal,  Rosito Bagunu Jr., Billy Buraga and former Marine Melchor Mamauag.

The suspects were charged with four counts of murder and two counts of frustrated murder before the office of provincial prosecutor Felipe Jesus Torio II.

Initial investigation showed that Zipagan was driving his car with his family from Barangay Cansan when unidentified men wearing hoods opened fire with a .45-caliber pistol and an M16 armalite rifle.

His daughter Joylin Mabbayad, 23; his niece Jelaine Zipagan, 8, and granddaughter Aira Shane Zipagan, 12, were killed. Benita and their one-year-old granddaughter Therese Joy Mabbayad were wounded.?