"Even in killing men, observe the rules of propriety."
--CONFUCIUS
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| AMIYONG alyas "Batman" |
By Alex P. Vidal
If "Batman and Robin" were working for government as anti illegal drugs agents, drug syndicates may be starting to smell victory now that they have neutralized Batman two years after they murdered his sidekick, Robin.
I'm referring to retired police Superintendent Musa Amiyong, former deputy chief of the Iloilo City Public Safety Management Company, who has been in state of comatose (as of this writing) at the intensive care unit (ICU) of St. Paul's Hospital after being fatally shot several times on the neck by two motorcycle-riding assailants on Quirino Bridge on November 22 evening.
The attack, the third attempt on his life in four months this year, came after he left the house of his textmate, Melissa Esperonce-Aguirre alias "Love-Love", in Lapuz at past 9 o'clock in the evening.
TACTIC
In an apparent squid tactic, Amiyong's enemies--or those interested to have him liquidated--were now trying to muddle the issue by linking his attack on a supposed mysterious liaison with women.
It was allegedly his first meeting with "Love Love" and the woman did not know he was a retired cop as he introduced himself as "Bebot".
If "Love Love" did not know "Bebot" personally and met him only for the first time as she claimed, why did she spend time with him in a dinner inside "Love Love's" house together with "Love Love's" trusted friends, Glenda Medrocillo and Racquel Galvez?
Amiyong's companion, known only as "Tukmol" when he visited "Love Love", was nowhere to be found when the shooting occurred.
SPECULATE
Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director, Senior Supt. Ruperto Floro, refused to speculate if the attack on Amiyong or "Batman", a Muslim, was related to drugs or women.
The task force headed by Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) Special Operations Group chief, Supt. Uldarico Garbanzos, continued to face a blank wall.
Amiyong, 58, is a controversial character in law enforcement.
His name had been linked to illegal drugs and in the murder of a fellow cop who was an active crusader against illegal drugs; but his accusers could not pin him down on these issues for lack of evidence and witnesses.
ACCUSED
Amiyong was also once accused of harassing the political supporters of Iloilo Rep. Jerry Trenas as he was identified with former justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr., whose son, Raul Jr., lost to Trenas in two successive congressional elections.
When he was active in police service, he befriended a lot of media people and made one of them as his civilian sidekick in his campaign against illegal drugs in the metropolis.
Since the murder of his radioman sidekick, Lito Jimena or "Robin", on August 22, 2011 in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, he was never the same again.
He became more security-conscious and would suspect everyone staring at him as a potential assassin.
GUNMEN
On August 24, 2011, unidentified gunmen also tried to kill him while he was about to board a ferry boat back to Iloilo from Bacolod after visiting Jimena's cadaver at the morgue of the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.
Jimena or “Robin” died from gunshot wounds on the head after being chased down by two hit men while riding on his motorbike.
In that 2011 incident, the suspects, believed to be cohorts of those who finished off "Robin", spotted "Batman" in the Bacolod pier, sources reported.
The presence of policemen in the wharf alarmed the gunmen, thus they decided to call off the operation, they added.
Since 2011 or even earlier than that, Batman was reportedly aware that he was being followed and also probably marked for liquidation by the same characters who murdered his civilian partner.
By Alex P. Vidal
Now that Malacanang through Press Secretary Edwin Lacierda has ordered a thorough investigation on the senseless killing of radioman Niel "Lito" Jimena in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental last August 22, expect police probers, led by E.B. Magalona police chief, SP04 Leonardo Cobing, to leave no stone unturned in solving the grisly crime soon.
We expect a breakthrough in the case at least before the year ends when witnesses start to come out in the open and pinpoint the perpetrators and the masterminds after the Iloilo Press Club (IPC) dangled a P100,000 reward for anyone who can provide information for the culprits' immediate arrest.
We still maintain that Jimena's murder could have something to do with his part-time job as police Senior Inspector Musa Amiyong's "runner" or "hitman" during the police officer's controversial stint as intelligence chief of the Iloilo City Police Office where they became widely known in the underworld community as "Batman and Robin."
CARTOON
"Batman and Robin" were hero cartoon characters and partners in fighting the bad guys in society.
They tackled their foes in a hand-to-hand combat side by side.
One of them was useless if the other was missing.
The Amiyong-Jimena romance that romped off some five years ago, became the object of gossips and constant discussions among coffee shop habitues in Iloilo City.
How they became infatuated with each other was something that intrigued some rank-and-file cops and fellow radio reporters.
One time in a coffee shop inside SM city, an enraged Jimena punched fellow mediaman Francis Terania "for spreading a gossip about Jimena and Amiyong." Terania, who did not fight back, denied his friend's allegation but theorized "there was something fishy" when a cop and an off-and-on broadcaster form a team purportedly to run after illegal drugs syndicates.
FAR-FETCHED
It was not far-fetched for the Amiyong- Jimena tango to hit off since Amiyong is one of the only few police officers closed to members of media in Iloilo City.
In fact, he is a "fast drawer" when it comes to picking up the tab for his media friends' coffee and tea.
As Iloilo's "Batman and Robin," they were dreaded and merciless against the small fries but haven't bagged a single big fish despite their well-oiled operations, something that dismayed Amiyong's superiors and lent credence to suspicions they were doing some "monkey business."
We are not saying that Amiyong and Jimena were bad guys and had circumvented the laws or used their power and influence for their own whims and caprices.
But one thing's for sure, they are not immaculate!
JUSTICE
If he is hellbent to give justice to his murdered subaltern, Amiyong should disclose to investigators all their botched and successful operations against suspected traders of illegal drugs in the past.
How many arrests have they made during the period of their notoriety as "Batman and Robin?"
Who were the personalities involved and how did Amiyong deal with them even if they were known to be untouchables?
What is the status of the cases, if there are any, filed against the suspects?
Furthermore, what qualifications did Jimena possess that prompted Amiyong to recruit him to his team? What was Jimena's real job prescription?
What step did Amiyong undertake when Jimena was first ambushed and survived in 2009 also in Victorias City?
What could be the motive of that slay attempt on Jimena's life?
OPEN
We are glad Amiyong has started to open his mouth. He should talk more and help ferret out the truth. Jimena has been eliminated.
Amiyong is still standing--and talking!
Meanwhile, we appeal to some eager-bearer amateurs not to muddle the issue by prematurely pointing to an Iloilo City politician as the possible mastermind in the murder.
We believe Jimena was killed not because of his role as "anti-graft crusader" and for lambasting politicians in his blocktime programs.
These issues are peanuts vis-a-vis the major angles being doggedly pursued by cracked probers that somebody could have double-crossed or hoodwinked someone in a very complicated transaction that turned awry.
