3 brods in police custody for demolition rampage

MANILA, Philippines - Three brothers are now in police custody for gunning down a bulldozer operator and a security guard and wounding four others during last Thursday’s demolition of their house to give way to a housing project of the National Housing Authority (NHA) in Morong, Rizal.

Sotero Abenir and his brother Miguel were arrested hours after the killing of bulldozer operator Rommel Morales and security guard Bernard Cocoy.

Their younger brother, Isagani, surrendered to Senior Superintendent Rolando Anduyan, Rizal police director, past noon yesterday.

Anduyan said the Abenir brothers yielded an improvised shotgun, a .38-caliber revolver, an air gun, and assorted ammunition.

According to Anduyan, houses in Sitio Talaga, Barangay Maybancal in Morong town were demolished months back to give way to the NHA housing project. The Abenirs’ house though was temporarily left behind, as it was located in the far end of the lot.

According to reports, Morales was conducting a clearing operation in the area, to include the house of the Abenirs, when the three brothers appeared from nowhere and started shooting him and other employees of Baque Corp.

Morales and Cocoy sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died on the spot.

Those wounded were project manager Welfredo Pimentel, security chief Rommel Dizon, and security guards Horasio Garcia and Ruby Partosa.

Anduyan sent elements of the Police Intelligence Bureau (PIB) to the area but failed to accost the Abenir brothers, who escaped after their shooting spree.

However, hours later, Sotero and Miguel resurfaced in the area and were arrested by the PIB team. They yielded firearms and ammunition.

With the help of Morong officials, Isagani gave himself up to Anduyan at the provincial police headquarters in Taytay town yesterday morning.

The suspects are now detained at the Morong municipal jail pending the filing of charges against them.