Mangacop was shot dead at a bar in Davao City on July 2.
In a press conference on Friday (July 8) at the NBI regional office, Guro said considering the evidence they have gathered so far and the testimonies of the witnesses, the suspect, Dr. Marvin Rey Andrew R. Pepino, 31, who worked as a non-uniformed personnel of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao Region is liable for the killing of Mangacop.
Amierkhan, a student, was shot seven times by the suspect following a commotion at Lugar Café and Bar at Corner V. Mapa and J. Camus Extension Streets.
San Pedro Police Station on Monday (July 4) filed a murder case against Pepino, however he requested for a prelimirary investigation.
The Mangacop family through their legal counsel on Tuesday (July 5) had requested for the transfer of the case investigation to the NBI as the police could not come out with “fair and objective investigation following the “statements” made by the police officers who according to the victim’s family were siding the suspect.
On July 6, the City Prosecutor’s Office ordered all parties including all investigating units to submit additional evidence relative to the case.
NBI 11 spokesman Investigative Agent Ely Leaño said their team has already started its parallel investigation aimed to come up with a thorough and full evaluation of the case.
“Our findings of this case will also be submitted within the period in which the counter affidavit is submitted. We have 10 days to submit our findings and conclusion,” Leaño said.
Leaño emphasized that the NBI is mandated to conduct investigation of all forms of cases in its own initiative or when public interest requires.
“No less than the family of the victim, through their lawyers, had requested this office to intervene. Of course we will conduct a parallel investigation with our counterpart from the Philippine National Police (PNP),” he said.
Leaño assures both camps that they will get the two sides of the story.
He said, “we will dig deeper in such a manner that we will arrive or come up with a well supported and well founded conclusion.”
NBI 11 had already requested a technical team from Metro Manila in addition to their team here to help them in their ongoing investigation.
The bureau is also planning to conduct a reenactment of the incident based on the testimonies of the witnesses.
“The PNP has their own findings, we also conducted a separate investigation. At the end of the day all our works, the PNP, NBI and others will be subjected to a close evaluation of the office of the City Prosecutor,” he said.
All persons who were present in the incident are subjected to their investigation, he said.
The NBI is now appealing and requesting all persons who were jn the area at the time of the incident to volunteer and cooperate with them, including those uploaders of the video clips in the social media to submit the video they have taken during the incident.
The NBI is also asking the owners of the Lugar Bar and Resto where the incident took place to cooperate otherwise he/ she would be facing another charge for obstruction of justice.
Apart from the murder case, the bureau is also looking into the filing of illegal possession of firearms against Pepino.
“If the evidence would warrant that the carrying of the firearms by the subject is unauthorized then he will be facing another case for violation of Republic Act RA 10591 or illegal possession of firearms, according to Leaño.
Peaceful and law abiding people
Contrary to the claims that Mangacop family comes from a powerful clan, the family’s legal counsel lawyer Gibb Andrew Cabahug describes them as very good people, they are peaceful, and law abiding citizens.
“Hindi sila masamang tao, wala po silang position, wala silang mga baril, hindi po sila mga bayolenteng mga tao. They are faithful believers of muslim faith,” Cabahug told the members of the media during the press conference.
Cabahug said the family has no capability to make any manipulation or to influence the investigation nor to retaliate.
He said the police are portraying Pepino as the “victim” when the latter was the unlawful aggressor.
“Pepino was the aggressor, walang danger sa kanya,” according to the lawyer.
“They are not in the position to make those kinds of actions. They are just ordinary and peace loving and law abiding people. They do not drink, they do not smoke, they are faithful believers of muslim faith,” Cabahug said.
The suspect is the son of the late Major General Marvin Manuel Pepino who served as director of the Cybercrime Investigation Office of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center. He also served as the Deputy City Director for Administration of Davao City Police Office in 2014.
NBI 11 Investigating team
Atty. Gibb Andrew Cabahug