Suspects in slay of cop charged

November 12, 2010

Suspects in slay of cop charged

Hired assassins of a drug syndicate – police

By Tara Yap

THE quest for justice in the murder of PO2 Joemarie Lamis has rolled off as charges were filed against his suspected killers.

Charged with murder Thursday were Rene Esnaldo, 36, of Brgy. Taal in Molo district, Fluvio Libre, 32, of Brgy. Bakhaw in Mandurriao district, and two John Does.

Both Esnaldo and Libre are believed to be members of the Prevendido drug group.

Five witnesses buttressed the charges, particularly the eyewitness who saw the shooting of Lamis last November 2 along Muelle Loney Street, City Proper.

Ma. Luisa G. Lamis, the slain cop’s widow, said this is a significant step in finding justice for the untimely death of her husband who worked hard to minimize the spread of illegal drugs in Iloilo City.

Luisa said she knew first hand of the death threats received by her husband since June. 

Lamis, who was then an intelligence operative of the La Paz PNP, first received a threatening text message. 

“Pila gid ulo mo man?  Halong ka, (Killing you is not that expensive. Beware),” the sender warned.

By August, Lamis, who was then assigned at the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Group (RAIDSOG), confided to his wife that he received another death threat after a buy-bust operation in Bakhaw. 

By September, Lamis received another threatening text message.  “Congrats parts.  Blib kami sa pisan mo, daku gid pirdi negosyo Bakhaw, pero hasta ka lang Kalag2 (Congratulations! Business in Bakhaw suffered a big loss because of your dedication to duty. You will live until Halloween only),” the text messenger warned.

On October 26, Ernesto “Tirso” Regalado, one of close friends of Lamis, went to his residence in Lapuz.  It was only his wife who was around.  Regalado was accompanying a man who only introduced himself as “Amay,” an alleged friend of her husband from Bakhaw.

According to the widow, Amay wanted to know where Lamis was and she then told him that he was on duty in Guimaras. Amay told her that he would come back some other time to discuss important matters with her husband. 

“Considering he said he was a friend of my husband, I did not give it too much importance.  I was thinking they might have other personal transactions,” the widow said.

By November 2, Lamis was dead.

Meanwhile, the police are still hunting down the two John Does.

C/Insp. Eleizer Baclagon, City Proper police chief, said they are conducting further investigation on the identities of the two unnamed suspects and other personalities linked to the murder of Lamis.

Iloilo City Police Office director Dennis Basngi said they will file supplemental affidavit with the prosecutors once they have ascertained the participation of the two John Does in the killing.

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