Navy officer accused of killing cop promoted three times while on the run

From the Business Mirror (Aug 27): Navy officer accused of killing cop promoted three times while on the run

THE Navy wants to take custody of a senior officer, who, despite having been charged with murder 17 seven years ago, managed to reenter the military service and get promoted several times.

Col. Aaron Fetalvero, commander of Navy Base Cavite, has asked Branch 18 of the Regional Trial Court in Manila, for custody of Navy Capt. Marcelo Lampas, principal accused in the killing of Lt. Domingo Piopongco in Cagayan.

Piopongco was a member of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class of 1997.

On the other hand, Lampas is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1982, the current ruling class in the military, that counts among its members the current Navy flag officer in command, Vice Adm. Jesus Millan.

Lampas, who is currently held at Fort San Felipe in Cavite City, is also being investigated for alleged violations of the Articles of War and Armed Force regulations.

Lampas was recently arrested at Sangley Point in Cavite, where he had been assigned by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for Piopongco’s murder in Aparri, Cagayan, in November 1997.

NBI officials said Lampas managed to elude arrest by deleting “Vicente” from his original name of Vicente Marcelo Lampas and passing off his name as just Marcelo Lampas.

Lampas, together with fellow suspects—Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Melchor Laylo and Dominador Borgonia Jr. were accused of killing of Piopongco on the night of November 19, 1997, outside the Paparazzi Bar in Tuguegarao, Cagayan.

At the time of the murder, Lampas was with the Coast Guard and was based in Cagayan.

Before the killing, Lampas, who was with Laylo and Borgonia had an altercation with Piopongco and two of his classmates inside the club.

After the altercation, Lampas and his group hurriedly left while the Piopongco and his classmates opted to transfer to another place near the Paparazzi Club.

While Piopongco’s group was still inquiring from the establishment if it can still accommodate them, a commotion broke out outside and Piopongco went to see what was happening.

As Piopongco emerged from the establishement, he was met with a hail of bullets from an M-16 rifle that was allegedly fired by Lampas.

Piopongco died on the spot while his two classmates from the PNPA, who were also shot at by Lampas’s group, survived.

Lampas, Laylo and Borgonia were subsequently charged with murder and frustrated murder under Criminal Case 00-186413 before the Regional Trial Court in Cagayan.

Laylo and Borgonio were arrested and jailed in Cagayan. Laylo was later convicted of murder, while Borgonia died in detention. On the other hand, Lampas managed to elude arrest for 17 years.

The NBI claimed that Lampas reentered Naval service by using the name Marcelo Lampas and was even promoted thrice before the NBI managed to trace him.

“This means that Lampas managed to hoodwink the entire Armed Forces, particularly the Navy, by getting promoted three times while he was wanted by law,” said policemen assigned at the National Police general headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

But, while the NBI had already traced Lampas and served the warrant of arrest against him, the Navy, through Fetalvero, wanted Lampas to remain in its custody.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/nation/37807-navy-officer-accused-of-killing-cop-promoted-three-times-while-on-the-run