CAMP BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO PCSupt Ramon V. Gatan, PRO1 Regional Director and head of Task Force Bimmotobot, led today (July 1) composite teams of the task force in exhuming from a shallow grave the remains of a certain Ronnie in Barangay Bimmotobot, Naguilian, La Union, at the same lot where a shabu laboratory was busted in 2008. The exhumation was carried out by virtue of a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Ferdinand Fe of RTC Branch 67, Bauang, La Union based on a sworn affidavit alleging that Dante Palaganas, a Bimmotobot suspect presently detained at La Union Provincial Jail, confessed to the affiant that he (Palaganas) shot to death Ronnie sometime in November 2007. The affidavit also indicated that Ronnie, who allegedly worked as carpenter-electrician in the shabu laboratory, was ordered killed by Joselito Artuz, tagged as the shabu labs financier who is still at large, for knowing too much and for being too noisy about the illegal operation. The skeletal remains of Ronnie, whose full identity is yet to be established, was dug up at about 10:30 AM by combined elements of La Union police, Regional Mobile Group 1, PDEA1, Regional Crime Laboratory Office 1 and other concerned units. The exhumation was witnessed by officials of Barangay Bimmotobot and Nagulian town, and was covered by members of the local media. Initial on-site examination by the Medico-Legal Officer of RCLO1 revealed that the skull bore a bullet hole to the left temple indicating that the cause of death is cranio-hemorrhagic shock secondary to a gunshot wound to the temporal region. Inventory conducted by the SOCO Evidence Custodian revealed that the recovered evidence included one blue traveling bag containing assorted personal belongings, an electricians multi-tester kit, a pouch bag with several hand tools, a pair of slippers, and a broken spade. The recovered skeletal remains were turned-over to personnel of JOCES Funeral Homes in Bauang, La Union for further analysis to determine the victims identity and for safekeeping prior to proper disposition. Speaking to the members of the media, PCSupt Gatan expressed the collective satisfaction of the members of Task Force Bimmotobot on the positive turn of events. This is a major development in our investigation. We are confident that the evidence gathered here shall further bolster our case build-up efforts, Gatan said.
