Ronaldo Aquino Explained

Ronaldo Aquino
Caption:Ronaldo Aquino in 2018
Birth Name:Ronaldo Porlares Aquino
Birth Date:5 December 1961
Birth Place:Calbayog, Samar, Philippines
Death Place:Calbayog, Samar
Party:Liberal Party
Office:Mayor of Calbayog
Nickname:“Onald”
Country:Philippines
Termstart:May 2, 2011
Termend:March 8, 2021
Predecessor:Reynaldo Uy
Successor:Diego Rivera
Office2:Vice Mayor of Calbayog
Termstart2:June 30, 2004
Termend2:May 2, 2011
Termstart3:June 30, 1995
Termend3:June 30, 2001
Profession:Accountant
Alma Mater:University of the east, Manila

Ronaldo Porlares Aquino, CPA[1] (December 5, 1961  - March 8, 2021)[2] was a Filipino accountant[3] and politician who served as mayor of the city of Calbayog, Samar. He and his three companions were assassinated in March 8, 2021.[4]

Early life and career

Aquino was born in Calbayog, Samar. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at University of the East - Manila and became a certified public accountant before entering politics in 1992.

He served as vice mayor of the city from 1995 to 2001 and 2004 until 2011. Upon the assassination of mayor Reynaldo Uy,[5] [6] he took the position and was sworn in as the mayor of the city from 2011 until his murder[7] [8] [9] on March 8, 2021.[10] [11] [12]

Death

In 2011, his predecessor, mayor Reynaldo Uy[13] was killed by a sniper during a formal program at Hinabangan town when during that time, Aquino was the vice-mayor.[14] [15] On March 8, 2021, Aquino, including 5 others,[16] was also killed suffering 21 gunshot wounds in his entire body[17] during a shoot-out with police in a "mistaken encounter" as authorities initially claimed.[18] [19] [20] [21]

Investigation on Calbayog incident and trial status

This prompted a Senate investigation. A police officer, who turned as a whistleblower, revealed instances of collusion between the police and Aquino's political rivals, including linking Aquino in the drug trade whose claims were later dismissed. The National Bureau of Investigation in Eastern Visayas said in a hearing on June 9, 2021 that the incident had long been allegedly planned by members of Samar police, based on the affidavits of 53 witnesses and CCTV footage.[22] A statement by the lone survivor, Aquino's assistant, also refuted the claim by the police that it was a shootout.[23]

NBI released their report later that month, revealing that the van that Aquino rode had a total of almost 600 bullet holes. The vehicles used by police officers and by the operatives also got a total of 185 entry and exit holes and five entry holes, respectively. The one caught in the crossfire, which also contained the civilian casualty, sustained eleven gunshots.[24]

A joint resolution issued by the Department of Justice prosecutors on December 15, 2021 was released on January 19, 2022, saying Aquino and his aides were ambushed.

The following day, DOJ indicted nine accused police officers and several John Does on four counts of murder and one count of frustrated murder,[25] the latter a bailable offense. As recommended by the NBI,[26] charges were later filed before the Calbayog Regional Trial Court. Meanwhile, counter-charges against Ronaldo's son, Mark, and a police corporal, and the complaint against Mark for grave threats, all filed by the Philippine National Police;[27] as well as the supplemental complaint of Mark against two individuals, were dismissed.[28]

On February 15, 2022, the nine surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Camp Crame, a day after the Calbayog RTC Branch 32 issued their arrest warrants.[29] They were then detained in the PNP custodial facility;[30] CIDG were later asked to transfer the accused to a jail facility in Samar.[31]

All were dismissed from the service; four of them in late 2021.

In 2023, a day prior to the anniversary of the incident, RTC Branch 31 granted bail to suspects[32] before the judge inibited on the case. RTC Branch 33 ordered their temporary release on March 17.[33] The trial is ongoing.

References

  1. Web site: Republic of the Philippines: LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT OF CALBA YOG CITY. Request for Publication of Vacant Positions . August 7, 2020 . weebly.com.
  2. Web site: Tacloban. Bombo Radyo. Katawan ni Calbayog Mayor Aquino, naiuwi na sa kanilang bahay; public viewing nakatakdang isagawa – Bombo Radyo News. 13 March 2021 . 2021-05-06. en-US.
  3. Web site: Home . 2021-05-04 . 2021-05-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210504032450/http://main.nwssu.edu.ph/index.php/61-reea/public-relations-and-external-affairs?start=10 . dead .
  4. Web site: Master. Web. 2018-10-05. Calbayog City Mayor Aquino to deliver his Soca. 2021-05-04. Leyte Samar Daily News. en-US.
  5. Web site: 2021-03-09. 'I can't get justice from PNP': Calbayog mayor's slay not a shootout, says lawmaker. 2021-05-04. Filipino News. en-US.
  6. Web site: 2011-05-04. Arnulfo Ortiz Command condemns the killing of Mayor Reynaldo Uy, a true friend of the people. 2021-05-04. The Kahimyang Project. en.
  7. Web site: Mercado. Neil Arwin. 2021-03-11. House probe sought on Calbayog City mayor's death. 2021-05-04. INQUIRER.net. en.
  8. Web site: Samar congressman pushes House probe into 'senseless murder' of Calbayog City mayor. 2021-05-04. Rappler. 11 March 2021. en.
  9. Web site: 2021-03-09. Philippine mayor Ronaldo Aquino killed by police in 'mistaken encounter'. 2021-05-04. South China Morning Post. en.
  10. Web site: Archived copy . 2021-05-04 . 2021-05-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210504025702/https://www.congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/basic_18/HR01633.pdf . dead .
  11. Web site: Calbayog City mayor shot dead. 2021-05-04. Rappler. 8 March 2021. en.
  12. Web site: Calbayog City mayor, 2 aides killed in ambush. 2021-05-04. www.pna.gov.ph. en.
  13. Web site: 2011-05-01. Samar mayor shot dead. 2021-05-04. ABS-CBN News. en.
  14. Web site: Samar lawmaker, 5 others accused of 2011 slay of Calbayog mayor. 2021-05-04. Rappler. 3 May 2016. en.
  15. Web site: Calbayog in painful bereavement. Again! . Buddy . Gomez . March 10, 2021 . ABS-CBN.
  16. Web site: Gabieta. Joey A.. Calbayog mayor ambushed on his way to son's birthday party dies in hospital. 8 March 2021. 2021-05-04. en-US.
  17. Web site: Gonzales. Cathrine. Calbayog City mayor suffered 21 gunshot wounds on half of his body, says son. 11 March 2021. 2021-05-07. en-US.
  18. Web site: NBI steps in to probe Calbayog mayor's slay after police linked to ambush. 2021-05-04. cnn. en.
  19. Web site: 7 cops tagged in Calbayog City shooting. 2021-05-04. www.pna.gov.ph. en.
  20. Web site: Calbayog City mayor Aquino may have been killed intentionally, says son. 2021-05-04. ph.news.yahoo.com. en-PH.
  21. Web site: Robredo visits wake of slain Calbayog City mayor. 2021-05-04. Rappler. 17 March 2021. en.
  22. https://www.rappler.com/nation/nbi-calbayog-mayor-killed-in-ambush-not-shootout/ Rappler
  23. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/791107/7-cops-tagged-in-killing-of-calbayog-mayor-aquino-under-restrictive-custody-eleazar/story/ GMA News Online
  24. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1444891/nbi-investigation-shows-293-bullet-entry-holes-in-slain-calbayog-mayors-van/ Inquirer.net
  25. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/01/20/2155215/9-cops-indicted-killing-calbayog-mayor-3-others-march-2021/ Philstar.com
  26. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1444877/nbi-recommends-murder-raps-vs-cops-in-calbayog-mayors-killing/ Inquirer.net
  27. https://www.rappler.com/nation/cops-indicted-killing-calbayog-city-mayor-ronaldo-aquino/ Rappler
  28. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1165941 Philippine News Agency
  29. https://www.rappler.com/nation/cops-surrender-calbayog-mayor-ronaldo-aquino-murder/ Rappler
  30. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1555596/9-cops-linked-to-murder-of-calbayog-city-mayor-surrender-pnp/ Inquirer.net
  31. https://www.rappler.com/nation/visayas/hearings-start-trial-cops-accused-calbayog-mayor-aquino-killing/ Rappler
  32. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1197003 Philippine News Agency
  33. https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/03/19/2252664/9-cops-calbayog-mayors-slay-released/ Philippine Star

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