Supt. Leonardo Felonia (left) submitted himself to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, saying he came forward to “clear my name.” (INQUIRER MINDANAO/ KARLOS MANLUPIG)
A murder charge was filed yesterday against Supt. Leonardo Felonia, a police officer implicated in the June 12 slaying of Cebu businessman Richard King in Davao City.
Felonia, chief of the police’s Regional Intelligence Unit in Southern Mindanao, was named by another arrested suspect, Rommel de la Cerna, who said the police officer phoned the gunman, Paul Dave Labang on June 12 with instructions to shoot dead a target in barangay Obrero.
The target turned out to be King, who owns the chain of Crown Regency Hotels and other companies.
Felonia, who insists he’s innocent, voluntarily submitted himself for investigation on Monday evening “to clear my name.”
He first went to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who brought him to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
If it’s true Felonia made the phone call, the police officer would at best be a “middleman” in the June 12 liquidation with the task of contacting a hired gun.
The motive and identity of the mastermind behind King’s death are still the subject of investigation although a special police task group is following up leads on a personal grudge and business conflict stemming from King’s resort investment in Boracay and a construction firm in Davao.
Labang, 24, was arrested on Sunday by Davao police after he was spotted in barangay Maa near a shooting range where he did errands.
P30,000 fee
In a signed confession, the gunman admitted being approached by Felonia and that he received about P30,000 for the mission.
Rommel dela Cerna, 39, the alleged lookout, voluntarily surrendered to the police on Sunday and gave information about the policeman. His brother Rodel, who drove the getaway motorcycle, was also taken into custody.
Felonia was previously assigned in Mandaue City, Cebu in 2009 as deputy of the intelligence division for two years before he was transferred to Davao city, said Supt. Paul Labra 11, chief of the Regional Intelligence division in Cebu.
Dante Gierran, NBI regional director of Southern Mindanao, said he didn’t know where Felonia was anymore. No arrest warrant has been issued against him yet.
During his brief stay at the NBI, the police officer showed Gierran a text message from Camp Crame stating that he was temporarily relieved of his duties as chief of the RIU 11. \
“He was submitting himself for fact-finding investigation to clear hisname but at the moment, we could not yet take any action because therewas no case yet, and there is no warrant of arrest,” said Gierran. Insp. Jed Clamor, spokesman of the Southern Mindanao police, saidthe murder charge against Felonia was filed based on “the statementsof the suspects.”
“The PNP laments the dragging of the name of one of our personnel,” Clamor said. But he said the filing of the murder charge – which is non-bailable –will ensure Felonia a fair trial and a chance to clear his name if he was indeed innocent. Felonia voluntarily turned himself over to Mayor Duterte Monday evening when his name surfaced.
“I am innocent that’s why I’m voluntarily submitting myself,” he said. In arrests of suspects high-profile crimes in Davao city, the police usually parade the suspects or present them to the media.
This wasn’t the case in the King case.
When police escorted the three arrested suspect to inquest proceeding in the Hall of Justice, the suspects covered their faces or wore hats and towels over their heads to hide their features from photographers.
Harassment
On Tuesday afternoon, Davao city police director Vicente Danao arrived at the Hall of Justice with an assault rifle and police SWAT team.
Danao said he was helping secure the anticipated arrival of the suspects and their families at the court house for inquest proceedings.
He said families of the accused approached him after being harassed by men in motorcycles.
“The men tailed the mother in law of one of the suspects last night.They were also looking for the brother of Labang and asked if theyalready had lawyers,” Danao said.
Danao said because of this, the city police sent in more forces “to help ensure the safety of the accused and their relatives.”
“Who will benefit if these three men will be eliminated?” Danao asked,hinting that the mastermind behind the killing was mobilizing itsmen.
He also warned those harassing the families to stop: “If we will see you and you are armed, you will definitely die,” Danao said./ Germelina Lacorte and Karlos Manlupig of Inquirer Mindanao with Correspondent Chito Aragon