Slain cop thinking of retirement

By Francis Allan L. Angelo and Tara Yap

SLAIN PO2 Jomarie Benites Lamis was tinkering with early retirement after he was reassigned to Guimaras province when he arrested bet collectors of first two, a form of illegal numbers game in Iloilo City.

Two suspects gunned down Lamis, 32, on Muelle Loney Street, City Proper while on his way home to Brgy. Alalasan, LaPaz around 9:30am Monday.

Based on the autopsy report of Dr. Owen Lebaquin, PNP medico legal officer, Lamis died after a bullet compatible to caliber .45 ripped through a portion of his heart, left lung and thoracic vertebra or backbone.

Lebaquin said the slug, which entered Lamis’ right shoulder, was separated from its jacket, thus the extent of injuries.

The medico legal officer said the recovered slug was compatible to a Black Talon bullet, a brand of special bullet for handguns like .45 pistols.

According to a police official close Lamis, the victim was distraught after he was transferred to Guimaras in September 2010.

The reassignment took effect days after Lamis arrested a corredor or bet collector of the illegal first two operations in the city.

The police official said Lamis felt miserable after the transfer and was planning to retire early from the service.

“He felt the pressure from the syndicate he went up against. He was asking for help regarding his case,” said the police officer who asked not to be identified.

Iloilo City Councilor Plaridel Nava, a close friend of the slain policeman, said Lamis sought his help to return to the LaPaz police station in the first week of October.

Nava said he was supposed to meet with then PNP regional director Samuel Pagdilao regarding Lamis’ assignment but it did not push through when Pagdilao was transferred to Luzon.

“PO2 Lamis was wondering why he was relieved from LaPaz and transferred Guimaras for no justifiable reason. He was in fact given a citation by then Mayor Jerry Treñas for helping neutralize the Bukas Kotse Gang early this year,” Nava said.

Nava said he is also wondering why Lamis was shipped out of Iloilo City despite his good performance against illegal drugs, gambling and robberies.

Nava said he last met Lamis when they played basketball in Lapuz last week. The lawyer-turned-councilor said he did not sense anything unusual in the slain police officer.

“PO2 Lamis even told me that he was doing okay in Guimaras already. I was surprised to learn that he was killed on Monday,” Nava said.

The Daily Guardian tried to get the side of Lamis’ mother and wife but they refused to talk for the meantime.

Aside from the illegal gambling angle, police are also looking into the illegal drug cases Lamis handled while still alive.

C/Insp. Elizer Baclagon, City Proper police chief, said they have identified some suspects in Lamis’ assassination.

Baclagon said the suspects are involved in the illegal drug trade in Iloilo.

The PNP has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to join in the investigation since the bureau can subpoena the suspects for questioning.

Baclagon said they have received information that a personality facing illegal drug charges tried to convince Lamis to amicably settle the case and avoid court trial.

“But Lamis refused the offer because his career would be at stake,” Baclagon said.

Baclagon said they will seek help from NBI to come up with a facial sketch of the suspect based on the testimony of a witness who was near the crime scene when the shooting happened.

In Camp Delgado, C/Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr, Regional Office (PRO6) director, ordered the immediate identification of assailants and determination of the motive behind the killing of Lamis.

Querol directed the order to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Regional Intelligence Office (RIO).

S/Supt. Dennis Basngi said he has formed Task Force Joemarie to focus on Lamis’ case.

Basngi said he was saddened by Lamis’ death saying the police officer was one of the hard working members of the PNP.