Espera, Gighe on offensive, pursue case vs CIDG men

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

TWO suspects in the gun attacks on Ma. Erica Yabut and her boyfriend Jim Jamaca in FS Catanico are on the offensive, and are bent on pursuing their own case against the former head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and his men here.

This was disclosed by lawyer Noel Vedad who quoted National Police Commission (Napolcom) officer in charge Arnold Miña as saying that Malacañang has given the green light to the hearing of the grave misconduct and grave coercion case against Senior Supt. Alexander Tagum, former director of the CIDG in Region 10.

Vedad is the lawyer of Senior Inspectors Joel Nacua and Ludwig Charles Espera, and Insp. Arnel Gighe who filed the complaint against Tagum and his subordinates identified as Chief Insp. Melgar Devares, Insp. Manuel Junior Taytayon, and several John Does.

Two of the complainants–Espera and Gighe–have been linked to the December 2014 Jamaca-Yabut slays or more specifically, to the FS Catanico shooting death of Yabut and the attempt on the life of the lone survivor, Jim Jamaca. Two of Jamacas cousins were killed about the same time, and found dead in Barangay Mambuaya.

Espera and Gighe have alleged that the CIDG caused them to be linked to the FS Catanico shootings following a standoff at the Cogon police station involving them and the group of Tagum who is now the police director of North Cotabato.

The lone survivor however has identified Espera and Gighe as their attackers, and wanted to point to them in court but the officers did not show up during a hearing. The court subsequently allowed Espera and Gighe to bail out supposedly because the police officers were identified only by Jamaca through mugshots shown by the CIDG.

In an Oct. 7 letter, Atty. Miña stated that Malacañang gave a “presidential clearance” on the proceedings against Tagum and his men in connection with the Dec. 12, 2014 standoff.

In a seven-pages affidavit, Nacua alleged that he, Espera and Gighe were harassed inside the station because Tagum wanted to take four CIDG informers–Jovencio Siagot, Francis Ralioma, Robert Amatiad and Eddie dela Peña–who were detained in the police station. The four “assets” were arrested for illegal arms and explosive possession at Sitio Bolonsiri, Barangay Camaman-an, this city.

Nacua, who was the station commander then, said he turned down Tagum’s request for fear that he would be charged with obstruction of justice if he allowed it.

He alleged that Tagum became angry, and so he asked Gighe and Espera to back him up.

Nacua alleged that the standoff took place when Tagum and Gighe drew their guns and pointed these at each other. He said Espera, who was armed with a rifle, allegedly pointed his firearm at Tagum.

Miña said he received the presidential clearance in Sept. 4, and endorsed it to Napolcom regional director Ramon Mañeses.