The case of slain Police Officer Elbert Piolo, 38, is almost three-months old, but mystery continues to shroud the July 13 incident.
Suspected gunman Mark Anthony B. Torre, 30, has been under house arrest. The victim’s relatives have appealed for justice for Piolo and want to “know the truth” that fateful morning on what prompted Torre, the victim’s fellow officer at Guam Police Department, to allegedly shoot him dead.
The motive for the killing has not been established.
“All we want is the truth,” Edison, 36, only brother of the victim, intoned during a recent hearing, attended by both Torre’s and Piolo’s families.
“He’s a good guy, one hell of a good guy, “ Edison said.
Published reports quoted Edison as saying that he and his brother were “very close.” He said they always had each other’s back.
Torre, the son of a high-ranking GPD official and his namesake, is facing first-degree murder charges for the killing of Piolo.
The older Torre was said to have been asked for help by the dying victim and this was heard through a 911 call made by Piolo, himself. The recorded telephone call was presented by the prosecution in court.
“Lieutenant, help me. I’m dying. I’m dying. He shot me, he shot me,” the recording from 911 said.
Edison said he and Elbert are look-alike. “He (Elbert) was just smaller with lots of tattoos.” Describing Elbert as an approachable guy, “who had many friends,” the victim, Edison recalled, “lends a hand even if he doesn’t know you.
“He touched so many people in their hearts. He’s a physical angel walking around,” Edison was quoted as saying by local papers.
Edison said he and his brother shared the same love for music. Elbert was a member of the band Soul Vibes. “He loved music and he loved to dance.”
The younger brother further recalled that Elbert would remain “calm” even when others are not. Edison said he could not believe the his brother would meet a gruesome death. “If you’re mad at him, he’s calm. He doesn’t hold a grudge. He’s all chill.”
Edison said his brother brought happiness to everybody “when he’s around.”
What really happened that fateful morning of July 13, may be unearthed as Torre Sr. is expected to talk during the trial. The court has forbidden contact between him and his son.
Torre was indicted by a Superior Court of Guam grand jury on July 24.
Based on court records obtained by this paper, besides the murder charge, Torre is also facing charges of manslaughter and two counts of aggravated assault.
The incident occurred at Torre’s residence at 140-Chalan Tomas, Andal, Yigo. Piolo died more than an hour after he was rushed to Guam Memorial Hospital by responding medics.
Piolo, of Dededo, spent more than 15 years in the police service.
On the other hand, Torre resigned as GPD member on Aug. 10. Prior to his resignation, he was on a 20-day administrative leave.
Court records state that Torre was “extremely intoxicated” when the incident happened. He was quoted by the responding officers as telling them that “I never pointed it at him,” in an apparent reference to the pistol that was used to shoot the victim at the right side of his body below the armpit.
“He said that they (Piolo and unknown female) were not an item.” According to the suspect, he tried to stop the argument but could not say whether it was over the phone or if the woman was present. “People are going to think I shot him (Piolo).”
No witnesses surfaced to shed light on the matter.
The firearm was recovered from the driver’s dashboard of Piolo’s Tacoma truck. Droplets of blood were also found even inside the residence of the suspect.
Superior Court Judge Michael Bordallo had denied the defense’s request to allow the murder suspect to have contact with his father pending trial.
Torre’s lawyer Jay Arriola, noted that Torre Sr. has cooperated with investigators from the very beginning by assisting the 911 operator the night of the alleged shooting.
“There’s no evidence of any type of collusion,” Arriola maintained. Several of his motions, including the ban on the media, were also turned down by Bordallo.
Chief Prosecutor Phillip Tydingco said there’s a persistent concern that the suspect and his father would talk about the case “to help prepare a defense.”
Torre is under house arrest after he posted a $165,000 bail bond. Initially, the court set a $500,000 bail for the suspect’s temporary liberty.
If convicted, Torre is facing a life term for killing a fellow officer, who was posthumously promoted to the rank of a sergeant.
The next hearing is scheduled on January 28, 2016./The Junction News Team
