Ronaldo Aquino

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]

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Porlares and the surname or paternal family name is Aquino.
Ronaldo Aquino
Ronaldo Aquino in 2018
Mayor of Calbayog
In office
May 2, 2011 – March 8, 2021
Preceded byReynaldo Uy
Succeeded byDiego Rivera
Vice Mayor of Calbayog
In office
June 30, 2004 – May 2, 2011
In office
June 30, 1995 – June 30, 2001
Personal details
Born
Ronaldo Porlares Aquino

(1961-12-05)December 5, 1961
Calbayog, Samar, Philippines
DiedMarch 8, 2021(2021-03-08) (aged 59)
Calbayog, Samar
Political partyLiberal Party
Alma materUniversity of the east, Manila
ProfessionAccountant
Nickname“Onald”

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.[22] 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.[23] 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.[24] 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.[25]

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.[26][27]

The following day, DOJ indicted nine accused police officers and several John Does[26] on four counts of murder and one count of frustrated murder,[27][28] the latter a bailable offense.[22] As recommended by the NBI,[29] charges were later filed before the Calbayog Regional Trial Court.[27] 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;[28] as well as the supplemental complaint of Mark against two individuals, were dismissed.[26]

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.[22][30] They were then detained in the PNP custodial facility;[22] CIDG were later asked to transfer the accused to a jail facility in Samar.[31]

All were dismissed from the service;[32] four of them in late 2021.[22]

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

References
  1. "Republic of the Philippines: LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT OF CALBA YOG CITY. Request for Publication of Vacant Positions" (PDF). August 7, 2020 – via weebly.com.
  2. Tacloban, Bombo Radyo (13 March 2021). "Katawan ni Calbayog Mayor Aquino, naiuwi na sa kanilang bahay; public viewing nakatakdang isagawa – Bombo Radyo News". Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  3. "Home". Archived from the original on 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  4. Master, Web (2018-10-05). "Calbayog City Mayor Aquino to deliver his Soca". Leyte Samar Daily News. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  5. "'I can't get justice from PNP': Calbayog mayor's slay not a shootout, says lawmaker". Filipino News. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  6. "Arnulfo Ortiz Command condemns the killing of Mayor Reynaldo Uy, a true friend of the people". The Kahimyang Project. 2011-05-04. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  7. Mercado, Neil Arwin (2021-03-11). "House probe sought on Calbayog City mayor's death". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  8. "Samar congressman pushes House probe into 'senseless murder' of Calbayog City mayor". Rappler. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  9. "Philippine mayor Ronaldo Aquino killed by police in 'mistaken encounter'". South China Morning Post. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  10. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2021-05-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Calbayog City mayor shot dead". Rappler. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  12. "Calbayog City mayor, 2 aides killed in ambush". www.pna.gov.ph. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  13. "Samar mayor shot dead". ABS-CBN News. 2011-05-01. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  14. "Samar lawmaker, 5 others accused of 2011 slay of Calbayog mayor". Rappler. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  15. Gomez, Buddy (March 10, 2021). "Calbayog in painful bereavement. Again!". ABS-CBN.
  16. Gabieta, Joey A. (8 March 2021). "Calbayog mayor ambushed on his way to son's birthday party dies in hospital". Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  17. Gonzales, Cathrine (11 March 2021). "Calbayog City mayor suffered 21 gunshot wounds on half of his body, says son". Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  18. "NBI steps in to probe Calbayog mayor's slay after police linked to ambush". cnn. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  19. "7 cops tagged in Calbayog City shooting". www.pna.gov.ph. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  20. "Calbayog City mayor Aquino may have been killed intentionally, says son". ph.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  21. "Robredo visits wake of slain Calbayog City mayor". Rappler. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  22. Inquirer.net, February 16, 2022
  23. GMA News Online, June 11, 2021
  24. Rappler, June 9, 2021
  25. Inquirer.net, June 11, 2021
  26. Philippine News Agency, January 20, 2022
  27. Philstar.com, January 20, 2022
  28. Rappler, January 20, 2022
  29. Inquirer.net, June 11, 2021
  30. Rappler, February 16, 2022
  31. Rappler, October 5, 2022
  32. Philippine Star, March 20, 2023
  33. Philippine News Agency, March 9, 2023


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