Ramirez killed in detention

CEBU, Philippines — Former Medellin mayor and incumbent councilor Ricardo “Ricky” Ramirez was killed near midnight Tuesday at the Bogo-Medellin Medical Center where he was under hospital arrest for unlicensed firearms and drug paraphernalia.

Authorities said 15 men with high-powered firearms carried out the operation on Ramirez, firing at least 33 shots that killed the official inside the bathroom of his hospital room where Ramirez tried to hide.

Lt. Colonel Eloveo Marquez, spokesperson of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, said a Special Investigation Task Group has been activated to look into the killing, which he described as “alarming”.

“Nag-decide mi… we have to create SITG because the manner of the killing is somewhat ma-consider nato makapaalarma tungod sa kadaghan sa personnel… and tanan naka-bonnet (We decided to form an SITG because the manner of killing can be considered alarming due to the number of suspects involved, all of whom wore bonnets),” Marquez said.

He and Medellin Police chief Audie Pelayo said Ramirez’ alleged links to illegal drugs is being eyed as motive in the killing, especially with allegations Ramirez was protecting drug peddlers.

Responding policemen recovered totters, drug paraphernalia used to in sniffing shabu, from Ramirez’ hospital room.

Investigation will also look into security lapses at the hospital, considering only one guard was keeping an eye on Ramirez.

Attack

No one else was hurt during the attack but the assailants did not plan on making their operation discreet.

Marquez said the suspects arrived at the hospital around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday on board four Sports Utility Vehicles.

According to one of the nurses, Mark Arcenal, the suspects spoke in both Visayan and Tagalog and ordered the hospital staff to duck and drop to the floor before grabbing a worker and ordering him to lead the way to Ramirez’ room. Four suspects followed.

Ramirez’s security detail, Jail Officer Renan Pableo of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, said they were watching television inside Ramirez’ room when they heard gunshots from outside.

It was at this point when Ramirez and his son’s girlfriend ran into the bathroom to hide.

Pableo said he tried to block the door to stop the suspects from entering but the suspects continued to shoot from outside. When the suspects eventually barged in, one of them reportedly asked him how many they were in the room. Pableo said he answered it was only him there but the suspects took his mobile phone away and ordered him to duck. They then proceeded to the bathroom and, there, fired mercilessly at their target.

Pableo and the girlfriend of Ramirez’s son survived unharmed.

Hospital Arrest

Following his arrest last year, Ramirez requested for hospital confinement owing to chest pains.

Supt. Gil Inopia, Jr., warden at the jail in Medellin, said that until the attack Tuesday, the court has not lifted its order to have Ramirez stay at the hospital.

Doctors had diagnosed Ramirez of primary hypertension and diabetes.

The Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG)-7 served the warrant against Ramirez in July 2017 with former Police Regional Office-7 Director Jose Mario Espino tagging him as a “high-value target” drug personality.

In February this year, CPPO and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 recovered several contraband items from Ramirez’ hospital room during a surprise inspection as part of a greyhound operation at the Medellin District Jail.

They found and confiscated liquor, cigarettes, lighters, assorted cellphone accessories, a wireless charger, playing cards, and a portable speaker.

The Bogo-Medellin Medical Center is located in the northern town of Medellin, which is approximately four hours away from Cebu City.

At the town’s Municipal Hall, the Philippine flag was flown at half-mast yesterday.

Governor Hilario Davide III extended his condolences to the Ramirez family and urged the police to resolve the case quickly.

"Of course, I was shocked. I knew him because he was still mayor when I became governor," Davide said. —  with May B. Miasco JMO (FREEMAN)