THE mother of a 17-year old computer gamer who was reportedly shot dead by Rosales Police has filed murder, planting of evidence and obstruction of justice charges on Thursday before the Office of the Ombudsman against eight police personnel, including a municipal doctor.

Christine Pascual, mother of victim Joshua Laxamana, from Tarlac, through the National Union Peoples’ Lawyers (NULP), charged P/Chief Inspector John Corpuz, police chief of Rosales town, PO2s Arvin Abella, Roy Sarmiento, Ronald Casareno, SPO 3 Oliver Vingua, SPO Hilario Taquiqui Jr, all of Rosales Municipal Police Station, Dr. Adan Arlie Guieb of the Rosales Infirmary Unit, P/Chief Inspectors Lady Ellen Maranion and Emeterio Macaraeg, both from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory Office in Urdaneta City.

Laxamana was killed in an alleged hot pursuit police operation on August 17, 2018 at 3:00 A.M. near the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union access road, in Rosales. The victim was a suspect in several robbery cases in the area and allegedly involved in illegal drugs, according to the police.

“….there and then, shot dead Joshua Pascual Laxamana, 17 years old and thereafter, of planting of evidence, specifically of firearms and drugs, in violation of Republic Act No. 9165 and 10591, and obstruction of justice, in violation of Presidential Decree No. 1829,” the complaint partly stated.

The police claimed that Laxamana resisted arrest and fired at the police officers.

But his family and friends believe that Laxamana and his 15-year old companion Julius Sebastian, who remains missing, were picked up by the police a day before he was allegedly killed in the police operation.

“We call on the Ombudsman to see to the charges filed by these grieving families immediately” said Rubylin Litao, coordinator of Rise Up for Life and for Rights, a network helping families of victims of drug-related killings.

Meanwhile, P/Sr. Superintendent Wilson Lopez, Pangasinan police director, said he was not aware of the Ombudsman complaint against his men but added that administrative charges have been filed against those in that police operation “as a procedural measure”.

In a separate interview, Corpuz, said he only learned about the complaint from the media, adding it is the right of the victim’s family to seek legal redress.

NULP quoting Pascua, charged that her son had decided to go with two friends, all DOTA players, to go to Baguio in the morning of August 15, 2018. “They got lost, abandoned plans, and headed home that same night. Joshua and Sebastian proceeded on foot near the TPLEX entrance of Sison, Pangasinan,” it added. DOTA is multiplayer online battle arena video game.

Laxamana, her mom said, had no access to guns or drugs and did not know how to ride a motorcycle.

She refuted police claims that her son was involved in robberies in Pangasinan, with certifications of clean records from the barangay and police of Tarlac where they lived.

 (PhilStar Wire Service)

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