Sandra Cam ‘surrenders’ but PNP won’t provide details

THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police announced last April 29, 2021, they have taken custody of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) director, Sandra Cam and her son, Marco Martin, after warrants of arrest for murder and frustrated murder were issued against them by the Manila Regional Trial Court last April 26, 2021.

In a statement, CIDG director, P/MGen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, said Cam “voluntarily surrendered” before the CIDG Calabarzon Regional Office and is presently confined, under ‘hospital arrest,’ in Cavite province. Ferro said.

In a motion last April 28, 2021, Cam pleaded for hospital arrest, claiming she remains confined since April 18, 2021, at the De La Salle University Medical Center in Dasmariñas City, Cavite. Based on the medical abstract she submitted to Honorable Judge Dinnah C. Aguila-Topacio of Branch 42, Manila RTC, Cam averred she is suffering from “severe compression deformity” in her spinal column that would now need surgery to enable her to walk again.

Her motion further claimed that she is scheduled to undergo a surgery procedure called ‘Laminactomy with Spinal Stabilization’ this May 3, 2021, and would need at least need a “period of one to two months” to rest and recover.

“Without the said surgery and treatment, accused Sandra Cam will risk not being able to walk again,” the motion said further.

It was also gathered that Marco Martin surrendered ahead of her mother and was the one to inform the police that she is confined to the hospital arising from the purported “severe compression deformity” in parts of her spinal column that would now need surgery to enable her to walk again.

Judge Topacio is yet to issue a ruling on Cam’s motion.

Curiously, the CIDG did not provide any other details, such as photographs of Cam or that of her son or what it intends to do with their 5 other accomplices who are also supposed to be arrested by law enforcement agents for the broad daylight murder in Manila last October 9, 2019 of Batuan, Masbate, vice mayor, Charlie Yuson III.

It should be remembered that the CIDG is the same unit that was used by the Cams to frame the Yusons for illegal possession of firearms and explosives, some three months before the 2019 midterm polls. The Yusons are bitter political rivals of the Cams in local politics.

The link between Cam and the CIDG’s raid was confirmed by one of Cam’s former employees, Amelita B. Albiola.

In her testimony before the DOJ panel during the probe on Yuson’s murder, Albiola recalled Cam telling them that she (Cam) already made an “arrangement” with the CIDG and the PNP commands in Bicol for the “planting of firearms, grenades and shabu” at the resort owned by the Yusons.

The CIDG raid dutifully occurred last February 13, 2019 that resulted to the filing of illegal arms and explosives possessions charges against Mayor Charmax and his father, murder victim, Vice Mayor Charlie. This prompted Mayor Charmax, to go into hiding, insisting that he would be killed as soon as he ends up in the hands of the police.

Despite this, Mayor Charmax still trounced Marco Martin in the mayoralty race and his father, elected as his vice mayor.

On the other hand, last June 10, 2020, the Masbate Regional Trial Court affirmed the finality of its dismissal of the cases filed by the CIDG against the Yusons.

In dismissing the cases, Honorable Judge Arturo Clemente Revil, Masbate RTC, said the evidence against the Yusons were “fruits of the poisoned tree” after learning that the CIDG officer involved, P/Major Dave Mahilum, resorted to “forum shopping” in trying to secure a search warrant on the Yuson property by applying in several courts in Metro Manila.

‘Please help us,’ Yuson calls on AFP, Parlade

Aside from the Cams, also indicted for the Yuson murder were: Nelson Reformoso Cambaya, Batuan councilor who also briefly served as town mayor; Junel Reyes “Bunso” Gomez; Bradford Fuerte Solis; Juanito Bustamante de Luna; and, Rigor Magallanes Dela Cruz, the suspected gunmen who carried out the attack on Yuson that happened at an eatery along Vicente Cruz St., Sampaloc, Manila.

All the suspects are also facing a separate crime for frustrated murder for the failed killing of Yuson’s companion at the time, Alberto ‘Pao-pao’ Alforte IV, where Judge Topacio recommended a bail bond of P200,000 each.

It can be recalled that last April 16, 2021, the special panel of the Department of Justice (DOJ) under Prosecutor General Benedicto A. Malcontento, finally released its 21-page report that recommended for the filing of murder and frustrated murder against the group of Cam, based on the investigation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The family of Yuson sought the intervention of the DOJ and the NBI in the case as they distrusted the Manila Police District, (MPD), then under, P/BGen. Vicente Danao, to conduct an impartial investigation and give justice to the victims.

Heeding the request, justice secretary, Menardo Guevarra, then formed a special panel to probe the incident with the NBI tasked to conduct the investigation proper.

This time, the family is seeking the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly the help of Southern Luzon (Solcom) area commander, Lt. General Antonio ‘Jun’ Parlade, whose area of responsibility covers the Bicol and Southern Tagalog regions.

Mayor Charmax, in a talk with Pinoy Exposé, said they have reason to believe that the other suspects still at large are hiding in Masbate province, along with the Cam’s alleged “private army” consisting of armed goons and former members of the New People’s Army.

He noted that one week after the warrants have been issued by the Manila RTC, the PNP has not taken any effort to locate the suspects, “despite it being common knowledge in Batuan that they are just roaming around.”

“Nananawagan po kami sa Phil. Army, kay Gen. Parlade na tulungan po kaming magkaroon ng hustisya sa pamamagitan ng pagtugis sa iba pang mga suspek sa pangunguna ni Cambaya at sa mga armadong grupo ni Cam sa Batuan,” Charmax said, adding:

“Wala na po kaming tiwala sa PNP at sa Phil. Army na lang po talaga kami umaasa.”

He also claimed that members of Cam’s purported “armed group” are freely roaming around in Batuan and other areas in Masabate in the full knowledge of the local police despite also having warrants for their arrest for murder and other crimes.