Special Investigation and Task Group (SITG) Plaza during its press conference Wednesday afternoon at the headquarters of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 11, Brigadier General Benjamin Silo Jr, the regional PNP chief said that the cases of murder and obstruction of justice have been filed early morning Wednesday against Brigadier General Jesus Durante, the commander of Philippine Army’s 1001st Infantry Brigade (IB) based in Maco, Davao de Oro.
Apart from Durante, his deputy brigade commander Colonel Michael Licyayo was also charged with murder and obstruction of justice.
The SITG also filed murder and theft charges against six other personnel of 1001st IB and two John Does.
These include staff sergeant Gilbert Plaza, Sergeant Delfin Sialsa Jr., Corporal Adrian Cachero, and Private First Class (PFC) Rolly Cabal, PFC Romart Longakit, and Noel Japitan, a civilian who allegedly served as “striker”.
According to SITG, Durante ordered his deputy to kill Plaza, 38.
“Give instruction to liquidate the victim,” this was the exact statement of Durante based on the SITG Plaza link analysis to Licyayo.
Plaza, 38, was gunned down by riding in tandem outside of her rented house in Green Meadows Subdivision, Barangay Sto. Niño, Mintal, Davao City at around 7:30 p.m on December 28,2022.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. during his visit in Davao City early this month, has assured justice to the family of Plaza.
He said that police would really do their best to make sure that justice is served.
Brigadier General Allan Hambala, the assistant division commander of 10th Infantry Division confirmed in the same press conference that they are the one who handed over the suspects to the SITG Plaza.
In the course of investigation, it was found out that Durante and Plaza had an intimate relationship based on the evidence recovered.
Sialsa (gunman) and Cachero (motorcycle driver) who executed the liquidation of Plaza stand as the confessors made the parallel confessions through extra judicial affidavit.
The two including Japitan surrendered pieces of evidence such as the gun used in killing Plaza, a motorcycle, and a jersey.
The investigation also revealed that Japitan was instructed to dismantle and change the color of the motorcycle.
Sialsa in his extra judicial affidavit implicates Durante as the mastermind of the death of Plaza.
Hambala confirmed that Durante and Licyayo were immediately relieved after the general’s name was linked to the death of Plaza.
Aside from the extra judicial affidavit, the SITG was able to recover the Macbook from the house of the victim containing intimate photos and email messages of Durante.
The victim said in her facebook account that she was maltreated by the general. There is also evidence that the victim was blackmailing Durante.
The SITG, believes that with all the information and evidence they have gathered they are confident of an air tight case against the suspects.
Durante and Licyayo are now in the custody of the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, while the other soldiers are now contained at 10th ID headquarters in Mawab, Davao de Oro.
Photo from PRO 11