DAVAO CITY –— The Special Investigation Task Group Plaza on Wednesday named former Presidential Security Group commander BGen. Jesus Durante III and nine other members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as suspects in the killing of Davao model and businesswoman Yvonne Chua Plaza on December 28, 2022.
The cases were filed before the City Prosecution Office earlier today.
Earlier on, reports linked Durante to Plaza’s death but the later said the victim was his good friend but denied any hand in the murder.
During his stay as PSG commander, Plaza was issued identification card stating she was a consultant in said unit.
In a press conference held at Camp Catitipan, Philippine National Police Regional Director BGen. Benjamin Silo identified Durante, the former PSG commander and the former brigade commander of the 1001st Brigade of the Philippine Army, as the mastermind behind the crime.
Silo said the suspects in Plaza’s killing are members of the Army’s 1001st Infantry Brigade, which Durante used to lead, the suspects are already confided to the 10THID barracks in Mawab while Durante has been ordered restricted inside Camp Aquinaldo in Metro Manila.
Plaza was shot dead by two assailants in front of her rented house at the Green Meadows subdivision in Barangay Tugbok, Davao City last Dec. 28.
The SITG Plaza based their findings and build the cases on the videos and the photos they gathered which helped them in the identification of the suspects which was collaborated by witnesses.
Two army soldiers also submitted an extra-judicial confession on their involvement, they also surrendered the firearms and the clothes they wore during the commission of the crime..
During the press conference, the task group presented the link analysis which they claiimed to have lead them to conclude that Durante is the suspected mastermind in Plaza’s killing.
The matrix which was presented by the SITG showed that Durante was giving instruction to Col. Michael Licyayo, his deputy brigade commander who, on his behelf, provided the information and logistical support to the eight other suspects in the execution of the crime.
THE ACCUSED:
Based on the investigation, the SITG Plaza filed charged against the following personalities:
1. BGEN JESUS P DURANTE III
-murder -Obstruction of justice (PD 1829)
2. COL MICHAEL D LICYAYO’ COL MICHAEL D LICYAYO
-murder – violation of PD 1829
3. SSg Gilbert P Plaza
-murder -violation of PD 1829
4. Sgt Delfin L Sialsa, Jr
-murder -theft
5. Cpl Adrian N Cachero
-Murder -theft
6. PFC Rolly Cabal, PFC Romart Longakit, Noel H Japitan, and John Doe alias Jr
-murder and;
7. John Doe alias master sergeant
-violation of PD 1829
The SITG was able to connect the dots which showed that SSgt Plaza was the team leader during the commission of the crime.
THE EVIDENCE:
The CCTV footages and the statement of the witnesses showed that Sgt. Sialsa Jr. was the gunman, Cpl. Cachero driver the motorbike while PFC Longakit was the lookout.
Based on the charge sheet, Sgt. Sialsa executed an extra-judicial affidavit implicating Durante and Licyayo as the masterminds while Cashero linked Licyayo as the man who gave them logistics and instructions.
Silo said, the evidences which the suspects submitted correspond to their physical appearance as shown on the CCTV footages including the service firearm which was used during the commission of the crime.
The investigators found out that Durante paid for the rental of Plaza’s house.
The suspects turned over the victim’s personal belongings to Col. Licyayo, who ordered SSgt Plaza to burn the handbag, credit card and Plaza’s identification card.
The laptop of the victim which the family turned over to the investigators helped, as vital information and other circumstantial evidence were also found stored at the unit.
Davao City Police Director Alberto Lupaz revealed they considered the incident “It is a crime of passion”.
Lupaz revealed that there were other personalities involve in the case but the evidences and testimonies lead to Durante.
THE TIES:
Durante graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1992 while Licyayo graduated in 1993. The later is the deputy brigade commander of the 1001st Brigade and Durante was his commander.
The soldiers who stand suspects in the case are under the command and supervision of Licyayo.
As it is now, the case is considered “Cleared” but not solved, according to Silo, because the suspects have yet to be issued warrants of arrest because the prosecution office has yet to evaluate if there is probable cause, after which it will be elevated to the proper court.
Brigadier General Allan Hambala, the assistant commander of the 10thID told reporters “We are professional organization this is not a service-related case, per guidance of our commander we will never tolerate any personnel regardless of rank pag gumawa ka ng krimen, panagutan mo.”
Silo explained it took time to file the case “I believe that we have a very strong case, we provided the necessary evidence to prove that the persons who killed Plaza are the persons charged before the court.”-Editha Z. Caduaya
