NBI steps into Jaen shootout probe

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) joined Friday the investigation into the bloody shootout between the groups of Nueva Ecija 4th District Rep. Rodolfo W. Antonino and former Jaen Mayor Antonio Esquivel. The encounter Thursday night left a municipal councilor candidate and a policeman in the town dead and many others wounded, including Esquivel’s two sons. NBI’s decision to step into the probe was announced Friday by Reynaldo Esmeralda, deputy director for Regional Operation Services (DDROS), who disclosed that the two groups had a confrontation earlier Thursday during a wake in Jaen. “An exchange of unpleasant words between [former] Mayor Esquivel and Congressman Antonino prompted their PNP men and civilian bodyguards to draw their respective guns and some directly pointed their guns to their targets," an NBI report said. “Head Agent Pedro Roque Jr. and Deputy Director Edward Villarta who happened by at the funeral wake [parted the two opposing groups and were able to defuse] the volatile situation," the NBI report added. The report also said negotiations made by the NBI officers prevented a bloody encounter from happening during the wake. However, hours later, the two groups met again, the NBI said. Roque’s report said Esquivel’s convoy passed by the political rally of reelectionist Antonino, prompting the congressman to request the PNP to set up a checkpoint in Barangay (village) Dampulan. Esquivel is also running for the province's 4th district congressional race. “When the group of Esquievel passed again around 10:30 p.m., they were ordered to stop [by policemen manning the checkpoint] and then gunshots were heard," Roque’s report added. Investigators have not yet established who shot first. Esmeralda identified the fatalities as Rufino Galang, 54, of Barangay Langla, a candidate for municipal councilor and Senior Police Officer 1 Bobby Ferrer, 44. Wounded were Conrado Reyes, of Barangay San Bartolome, Quezon City; Ireneo Yadro, Teofila Mangunay, Patricio de Belen; SPO1 Noly Rey Perez, 42, of Barangay San Roque, Jaen, Nueva Ecija, SP02 Elmer Bautista, 48, of Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija; PO2 Egbert Castillo, 31, of Cabanatuan City, PO1 Emerson Nagano, 35, of Sto. Cristo, Gapan City; Mark Lawrence Esquivel, candidate for Vice Mayor in Jaen, Nueva Ecija; Mark Anthony Esquivel, of Jaen, Nueva Ecija; PO2 Nestor Ramos, 30, of San Antonio, Nueva Ecija and PO1 Michael Valenzuela of Regional Mobile Group 3. Empty shells for M16, caliber 9mm and caliber .45 were recovered by PNP and NBI operatives from the crime scene. - GMANews.TV