Vice President Jejomar Binay (left) is given a tour of the Toledo copper mine in Toledo City, Cebu on Thursday, November 6. Binay did not attend the day’s Senate probe on the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II. He is in Cebu to attend the Philippine Scouting Centennial Jamboree and meet with local officials to check their housing programs. Also in photo is Adrian Ramos (right), COO of Carmen Mining Corp. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Police have not found any connection linking the murder of former Makati engineer Nelson Morales, alleged bagman of Vice President Jejomar Binay, to his alleged involvement in some anomalies in Makati City.
At the resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee hearing on the corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday, Chief Superintendent Jose Erwin Villacorte said there are six suspects in the killing of Morales in 2012, one of whom – a certain Roderick Saraan – is already behind bars and facing trial.
Villacorte said one suspect, Ramson Concepcion, was killed in a police encounter. Two others, Gilbert Concepcion and Winifredo Rabaca, are still at large. Two more suspects remain unidentified.
The police said politics is the only the motive police have identified so far with respect to Morales’ killing.
Morales, provincial chair of United Nationalist Alliance, was shot dead in Albay on September 7, 2012 after a wedding.
“Ang lumalabas sa investigation is political. At that time, 2012, he is planning to run for mayor,” Villacorte said.
Villacorte also clarified that the only connection between the killings of Morales and three members of Ongog family in Albay is that the same group was behind the murders.
“Based on the records, the only connection between the two cases lies on the fact that the suspects in the murder and multiple murder cases belong to one criminal group, itong Concepcion group,” he said.
“There is no connection as to the killing of Ongog family, as there is no witnesses in any way connected doon sa killing ni Engr. Morales. Hence, it is safe to assess, in the absence of evidence, that the murder of Engr. Morales has nothing to do with the murder of Ongog family.”
Senator Koko Pimentel, chair of the sub-committee, summoned the police officials in order to give more information on the death of Morales, who was mentioned in the Senate many times for his alleged involvement in the rigging of bidding process of various Makati infrastructure projects as well as his role as one of Binay’s bagmen. (MNS)