DAVAO CITY, Philippines — More than 40 police officers in Cotabato province are facing criminal and administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for Mindanao over a deadly raid in Makilala town last month that left two men dead and several officers wounded.
Private complainants Regina E. Pedroso and Ramon N. Floresta filed the case on Wednesday, September 17, accusing senior police officials and their subordinates of murder, obstruction of justice, grave misconduct, and abuse of authority in connection with the bloody implementation of a search warrant in Barangay Bulakanon, Makilala.
Named as respondents were Cotabato Police Provincial Director Col. Gilberto Balneg Tuzon, Makilala Police Chief Lt. Col. Rolly C. Oranza, and more than three dozen officers from various units, including the 1st and 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Companies and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 12. Several patrol officers, including members of the alleged “assault team,” were also impleaded.
The complaint stemmed from the August 14 police operation to serve a search warrant against Floresta for alleged possession of illegal firearms. The raid, carried out jointly by local police and mobile force units, erupted in a firefight that killed Jovito Regidor Roa and Paul Lacorte Pedroso, both serving as security escorts of Floresta and reportedly linked to the Philippine Army.
Two policemen — Patrolman Christian Neyra and Corporal Jason Jungco of RMFB-12 — were also wounded in the encounter. Police claimed they were fired upon as they approached Floresta’s compound, prompting them to return fire.
Authorities reported seizing a cache of firearms and explosives, including assault rifles, pistols, hand grenades, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. The weapons were inventoried in the presence of a barangay official and a media representative.
But Floresta, who was arrested during the raid, denied ownership of the confiscated weapons. His counsel, Atty. Torreon, alleged that the police operation was marred by irregularities and a “grossly improper” implementation of the search warrant. The complaint filed before the Ombudsman contends that the deaths of Roa and Pedroso amounted to two counts of murder, along with violations of due process and obstruction of justice.
Pedroso, the widow of slain security aide Paul Lacorte Pedroso, joined Floresta in lodging the complaint.
The charges include violations of Article 248 (Murder) and Articles 128 and 129 of the Revised Penal Code, Presidential Decree 1829 (Obstruction of Justice), and administrative offenses such as Grave Misconduct, Conduct Unbecoming of a Police Officer, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.
The Ombudsman’s office has officially docketed the case and is set to evaluate the affidavits and attachments submitted by the complainants.
If found liable, the officers could face dismissal from service, forfeiture of benefits, and criminal prosecution.
The Cotabato police leadership has yet to issue an official statement on the charges as of press time.