Four CIDG personnel now under investigation for disappearance of Batasan Blast witness

Miami
October 7, 2008
Story: Four CIDG personnel now under investigation for disappearance of Batasan Blast witness

The Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the Philippine National Police will conduct investigation to those who are responsible for the disappearance of Batasan Blast witness.

The police personnel that will be subjected for the investigation are Senior Supt. Ericson Javier, the former chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR); Inspector Ariel Macanlalay, SPO1 Raymond Santos and SPO1 Johnny Muzar.

Ikram Indama is the suspect at the Batasan Bombing that happened in November 13, 2007 turned witness after implicating former Basilan Congressman Gerry Salapuddin as the mastermind behind the bombing.

Indama was under the custody of the CIDG-NCR after it filed for witness protection program. His application for the witness protection program was approved July 10, 2008 and it will lapse after 90 days. If Indama did not disappear the CIDG-NCR has plans to ask the Department of Justice (DOJ) to extend the program.

But since Indama managed to disappear on their custody, the CIDG might file for including him as accused in the Batasan Blast.

Because of the investigation Javier opted to leave for a meantime. He was about to be assigned as chief of Criminal Investigation and Detection Division (CIDD) last Monday, October 6, the date when Indama was disappeared.

Javier was replaced by Sr. Supt. Isagani Neres, the former Pangasinan Provincial Director.

As of 3:00 pm, October 7, 2008, Indama already surrendered, he first went to the sala of Judge Ralph Lee of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 83. On the television interview, Indama said that he only went to the house of his cousin in Fairview.

He was then presented to the Quezon City Police District Director Sr. Supt. Magtanggol Gatdula and immediately brought him to National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) in Bicutan, Taguig City.

On the television interview, he said that Salapuddin is not involved in the Batasan Blast and he is willing to face the consequences on what he did.