CITY OF MALOLOS— Relieved former Bulacan Police Director Senior Supt. Fernando Villanueva who is a veteran and multi awarded official on insurgency warfare in Bulacan after surviving series of ambush and encounters has denied any involvement in the carjack operation of any groups in Central Luzon particularly the Dominguez gang.
Interviewed by phone on Wednesday, Villanueva told NEWS CORE his relief from his post as Bulacan provincial director was based on series of recent incidents in the province especially those involving police elements and that he has no any connection with the Dominguez carjack group.
He said his family especially his children has been suffering a lot because of his being implicated in the said syndicate.
“Nag-iiyakan na ang mga anak ko dahil sa mga lumabas na issue tungkol sa pag-involve sa akin sa Dominguez group na walang katotohanan. Wala akong kinalaman sa Dominguez group. I was told that I will be relieved based on those incidents but not about the carjack operation”’ he said.
Villanueva was suddenly sacked from his post on Saturday, hours before carjack leader Raymond Dominguez sought a voluntary police protective custody at Camp Alejo Santos in Malolos City to the surprise of many Bulakenyos.
NEWS CORE had asked PNP Spokesperson Supt. Agrimero Cruz on Sunday about the grounds for Villanueva’s relief but did not give any response.
Villanueva suspected other police official may be is that interested in his position as Bulacan PD and used the Dominguez carjack issue against him to justify more his relieve. “Okey lang agawin sa akin yung posisyon pero ang i-involve pa ako at pagbintangan kasangkot sa carjack gang na walang katotohanan, napakasakit naman, particular para sa pamilya ko, sa mga anak ko,” he said.
Villanueva cited the involvement of a San Jose del Monte City police in a shooting incident in a restaurant in Marilao over a traffic altercation, a San Jose del Monte City police who was caught sniffing shabu allegedly within the city hall vicinity, the killing of Baywalk Bodies member Dianne Santos alias Rejoice Rivera and the carjacking of Monica Atienza’s Isuzu Altera last Jan. 12.
He said all those incidents happened during his stint as Bulacan director but he did not take those incidents just sting down.
“Hindi naman ako nakatanga lang ng nangyari ang mga iyan. I immediately acted upon especially on the erring police members,” he said.
Villanueva said he disarmed, relieved and taken of his ID Po1 Richard Guiyab, the San Jose del Monte City police member who was found sniffing shabu and filed corresponding charges against the police involved in the traffic brawl.
He said they were also able to get witnesses in the Santos killing and turned them over to CIDG which is pursuing the case.
According to the police director, it was during his stay as High Patrol Group (HPG) head in Central Luzon when the series of charges were filed against Raymond Dominguez, the alleged notorious leader of the Dominguez carjack gang.
“Kung nakakapag-piyansa ang mga Dominguez sa kaso nila, it is not beyond my control, judiciary iyon, bakit ako ang sinisisi nila,” he said.
Villanueva survived a three days heavy ambush-encounter with communist rebels in Pandi town in March 29, 2003 where his deputy group director in the 305th Provincial Mobile Group Command in Bulacan and some six other Bulacan police where killed.
Prior to that, Villanueva received several other awards for his anti insurgency operations in the province before he was assigned as HPG head.
He was assigned as provincial director in Bulacan to help man an honest and peaceful election before the May 10 elections.
Villanueva has earlier Police intensified visibility and checkpoint operations in all major and inner roads as part of the manhunt operation launched against groups of carjack suspects now being looked at as behind the spate of killings of car dealers and to help deter possible next cases of carjack incidents.
Villanueva disclosed a carjack incident happened that in Hagonoy town last Jan. 12 where the victim, identified as Monica Atienza of Barangay Sto. Nino that town had been taken of her colored gray Isuzu Altera with plate number ZHH-889 by four armed men.