Cops face blank wall on identities of culprits
Supt. Eugenio Espejo, deputy chief of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), yesterday confirmed that one of the two persons found dead along the coastal road recently was a suspect in three sensational crimes in the city.
Espejo said Rolly Portillo was included in the charge sheet filed by the police relative to the ambush of couple George and Ronelyn Gardoce. In Ronelyn’s affidavit, Portillo was identified as one of the suspects who peppered them with bullets in her affidavit. Ronelyn’s husband George died on the spot.
Earlier, police said a gun for hire group is behind the Gulanes case. Ronelyn recovered from her injury while their daughter who was unharmed during the incident was comforted by her family after her traumatic experience which caused his father’s death. Police eyed a business angle on the Gulanes case because of their lending business.
Portillo along with Edwin Salon were found dead Wednesday on the roadside between Barangays Bitoon, Jaro and Camangay, Leganes. They were hogtied with wires and handcuffs while their heads were covered with plastic. Salon is the owner of Ricky Talabahan at Hechanova Street, Jaro.
After the filing of the Gulanes complaint, police kept the names of the suspects while waiting for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against them. It was only yesterday when a top official of the city police confirmed Portillo’s participation in the Gulanes case.
Espejo also detailed Portillo’s participation in the robbery/hold up at the Ceres Liner compound where thousands of pesos were carted by the suspects. Reportedly, it was Portillo who pointed his firearms to the cashier.
The conduct of the robbery was so quick and well-planned that the security guards were caught flat-footed. Like in a close quarter battle, the suspects calculated their moves and fled hurriedly before the police arrived.
Moreover, Espejo also confirmed Portillo is behind the murder of Eduardo Pedrajas. The victim was mistaken as one of the big time drug lords operating in Bakhaw. He was just a caretaker of the unnamed drug lord.
In a radio interview, Espejo did not confirm the reports that the victims were summarily executed by a “vigilante group.” He did not make a categorical statement on who could have done the murders of the two victims.
Police has yet to pinpoint on who could have perpetrated the killings of Portillo and Salon. No witness has identified the vehicle which transported the victims as well as the suspects who dumped their dead bodies.
According to provincial police director Sr. Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, his men have long been eyeing the arrest of Portillo being a member of a gun for hire group. He said Portillo moved to Iloilo City sensing the provincial cops are after him.
Most of Portillo’s associates have been arrested by the police.