Police release sketch of suspect in Dalaig slay
Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales released yesterday a sketch of the gunman in the killing of Commission on Elections legal officer Alioden Dalaig after a witness to the shooting volunteered to help police investigators.
The gunman was described as between 39 and 41 years old, at least five-foot-five, 170 to 180 pounds, with dark complexion. He was wearing fatigue pants, a black jacket and a baseball cap.
The witness, one of three now helping probers, said the gunman had a companion lookout when he approached Dalaig, who was then crossing the street towards the Hyatt Hotel at the corner of Pedro Gil and M.H. del Pilar streets in Ermita,
Dalaig was hit in the left chest near his nipple when the gunman fired a .45 caliber pistol.
Responding policemen from the nearby Sta. Monica police community precinct rushed Dalaig to the Ospital ng Maynila but he was declared dead on arrival.
Investigators recovered a spent shell from a .45 caliber pistol at the crime scene. They also recovered P300,000 and a cellphone from Dalaig.
But homicide investigators lamented the apparent refusal of Hyatt Hotel security guards to help in the investigation.
A guard posted at the main entrance of the hotel insisted that he did not see the actual shooting, according to homicide chief Chief Inspector Alejandro Yanquiling Jr.
The hotel’s security officers said Dalaig’s car was not in the hotel premises.
Superintendent Nelson Yabut, chief of the MPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU), requested Hyatt Hotel to provide a copy of the video footage of the closed circuit camera installed at the hotel’s front door, which could help in the investigation.
Because of this, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim told the Hyatt Hotel management to cooperate in the investigation and reminded them that “charges could be filed against them for non-cooperation in the investigation of the case.
“They could be charged for accessory or participation in the cover-up of a crime,” said Lim, who is also a lawyer.
In a statement, Hyatt Hotel sad they have no records to show that Dalaig was a guest on the night the shooting occurred.
“Due to the ongoing investigation, we cannot release any more information regarding this matter. We also extend our sincerest condolences to the Dalaig family. Rest assured, we will give our 100 percent support to the authorities for the progress of the investigation,” part of the hotel’s statement read.
Yabut said the police are now discounting robbery as the motive for the shooting since the victim’s belongings were intact and were not taken by the suspects.
He said the CIDU is presently conducting intensive investigative inquiry among the victim’s family, friends, associates and officemates to explore other motives and angles in the killing.
MPD’s homicide investigators had also questioned several casino financiers whom Dalaig might have transacted with during his casino visits. There are reports that Dalaig was a frequent casino visitor.
Dalaig had death threats
Anybody could be a suspect now, but police investigators are looking at certain politicians from the south who may have an axe to grind against Commission on Elections (Comelec) legal department chief Alioden Dalaig over the results of local elections in their areas last May.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), meanwhile, has voluntarily stepped into the case in an effort to unmask the perpetrators behind the assassination.
NBI Director Nestor Mantaring had requested the family of Dalaig to give statements.
“I heard that Atty. Dalaig received some threats through text messages. I have already sent agents to interview the family ” he said.
The NBI would also try to get the testimonies of Comelec officials “to determine what cases he was handling and exact information such as their status and the parties involved.”
At Malacañang, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Philippine National Police (PNP) would be willing to provide security for Comelec officials if they ask for it.
Ermita noted that while the case of Dalaig is still being investigated and the motive is still unknown, there is nothing to prevent his colleagues from asking security from the PNP.
“Everything must be investigated first. But whatever the motives are, that is an assault on our authorities. This is a legal officer of the Comelec,” Ermita said.
One of the angles that the police are looking at is the possible involvement of former Maguindanao poll supervisor Lintang Bedol.
Dalaig issued the arrest order for Bedol after the Comelec cited him for contempt.
But a ranking police official involved in the investigation said the Manila Police District (MPD) received information that Dalaig solicited money from both winning and losing local officials in a southern province to act on their poll-related complaints.
“One of them reportedly resented the double-crossing ways of Dalaig and could have planned his assassination,” said the official, who requested anonymity.
The same official said he is now awaiting the witness who could identify the brains behind the assassination.
Another one bites the dust
Meanwhile, Yabut requested the
Joseph Anthony del Rosario, 46, was shot by two men armed with .45 caliber pistols while he was drinking with neighbors in a subdivision in General Trias,
“We will look if the successive killings of the two Comelec officials are connected,” Yabut said, adding that
Comelec officials are now assessing the security setup and checking if there is a pattern in the killing of
“I can’t say there is a pattern. It is too early to presume at this point. The Comelec is a 5,000-strong bureaucracy and these are three incidents. But I think we will be discussing that in our meeting tomorrow,” said Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, apparently also taking into consideration the kidnapping of a Comelec officer in the south.
Casan Laguindab, election officer of Calanogas town, together with his wife Nadia had just attended a court hearing in nearby Malabang town and was on his way back to his residence in
The couple was reportedly brought to barangay Laguno, Calanogas.
The kidnappers were believed to be followers of former vice mayor Piksan Benito of Calanogas, whom Laguindab earlier sued, according to the police.
The Bacoor police, meanwhile, released the cartographic sketch of the suspected gunman of Del Rosario.
Superintendent Gregorio Evangelista, General Trias chief of police, said the suspect was about 5’5 to 5’8” tall, around 130 pounds, medium built, fair complexioned, and around 21 to 25 years old.
The victim’s neighbors who witnessed the shooting described the suspect.
“These could be members of a gun-for-hire syndicate,” Evangelista told The STAR, adding that they were looking into two motives for the killing – “work related and the love angle.”
He added that they have already several hints on who is behind the killing but he refused to elaborate.
The Bacoor police have also tapped the assistance of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in gathering evidence and leads to track down the gunman and the persons behind the killing.
Del Rosario died from a single gunshot wound on his face. He was rushed to
Evangelista said investigators recovered an empty caliber .45 shell at the crime scene. The suspect fled after the incident.
Senate demands investigation
Not to be outdone, senators condemned yesterday the killing of Dalaig.
Senators Francis Escudero, Richard Gordon and Panfilo Lacson lashed out at the police for failing to maintain peace and order in the metropolis.
“Shocking as it appears, the gangland style killing of Dalaig is just one of the many election-related violent deaths we have come to witness over the course of nearly two decades,” Gordon said. “Is there a mafia operating in Comelec?”
Gordon, Escudero and Lacson called for the speedy disposition of justice as they called on the PNP to go after the mastermind of the killing.
“For our country’s sake, we demand that an investigation be immediately conducted and our people be told what really happened. We need to find out what controversial or sensitive cases Dalaig was handling,” said Gordon, who has been batting for the implementation of the automated elections law.
Escudero said there are a lot of questions left hanging with Dalaig’s killing.
“There are a lot of questions raised and there should be answers in the assassination of Mr. Dalaig. First, did he come from the casino or not? This is illegal and should not have been allowed. Why did he enter the place and leave before he was killed?” Escudero quipped.
He urged investigators to look into the resolutions recently handled by the slain Comelec official prior to his death.
Lacson reiterated his call for the PNP to review its firearms control measures, particularly on the approval of Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence (PTCFOR).
“I think the PNP should shift its policy to more strict firearms control. Any Tom Dick and Harry can avail of (PTCFOR),” said Lacson. — With reports from Arnell Ozaeta, Lino dela Cruz, Evelyn Macairan, Marvin Sy, Sheila Crisostomo, Christina Mendez
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