Cainta ‘shootout’ fatality is lawyer’s security aide

MANILA, Philippines — A man who was killed along with a female companion in an alleged shootout with police officers in Cainta, Rizal on Monday turned out to be a security aide of lawyer and senatorial candidate Glenn Chong.

Chong yesterday lambasted the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and demanded justice for the death of Richard Santillan.

Santillan and his companion were killed in an alleged encounter in Barangay San Andres at around 1 a.m.

The fatalities, along with two other men, were in a Toyota Fortuner (NOF 845) when the HPG officers spotted them along the Eastbank Road in Cambridge Village.

Reports said the vehicle did not have validation sticker and verification showed it was last registered in 2015.

The officers flagged down the Fortuner, but Santillan reportedly stepped on the gas, triggering a chase.

A brief exchange of gunfire ensued and resulted in the death of Santillan and the woman, whose name was not immediately available.

The other suspects managed to escape.

Probers recovered from the Fortuner two handguns, a grenade and three plastic sachets said to contain shabu, according to Chief Inspector Joseph Torcita of the Rizal police scene of the crime office.

Initial reports said the occupants of the Fortuner were suspected members of a robbery group.

Chong denied the report, saying Santillan was in Cainta for a gift-giving activity for impoverished children.

He said he owned the vehicle and it was not stolen.

“The firearms the police recovered do not belong to my aide. He only had one licensed firearm,” Chong said.

Senior Superintendent Jonathan Calixto, HPG-4A director, said the police operation in Cainta was legitimate.

Calixto told The STAR the operation was supported with documents and coordinated with local authorities.

Chong, who was in Naga City during the incident, said he found loopholes in the police report.

He expressed belief the incident was not an “encounter” as what the police claimed.

“I have no enemies except for Comelec and Smartmatic. This is the only angle I can see for this incident. They want to scare me by hurting the people close to me,” Chong said, referring to the Commission on Elections.

Chong had testified in the Senate and House inquiries on the alleged poll fraud allegedly committed during the last elections.

He accused Comelec and Smartmatic officials of involvement in the fraud. 

“I will not rest. I will find out the truth and bring justice to Santillan’s family,” Chong said. – With Edu Punay, Ed Amoroso