رونالدو أكينو

His killing prompted a Senate investigation.^[21] 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.^[22] 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.^[23] A statement by the lone survivor, Aquino's assistant, also refuted the claim by the police that it was a shootout.^[22]

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.^[24]

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.^[25][26]

The following day, DOJ indicted nine accused police officers and several John Does^[25] on four counts of murder and one count of frustrated murder,^[26][27] the latter a bailable offense.^[21] As recommended by the NBI,^[28] charges were later filed before the CalbayogRegional Trial Court.^[26] 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;^[27] as well as the supplemental complaint of Mark against two individuals, were dismissed.^[25]

في 15 فبراير 2022، سلّم المتهمون التسعة أنفسهم إلى مجموعة التحقيقات الجنائية في معسكر كرامي ، بعد يوم من إصدار محكمة كالباوج الإقليمية، الفرع 32، أوامر القبض عليهم. ^{[ 21 ] [ 29 ]} ثم احتُجزوا في مركز احتجاز الشرطة الوطنية الفلبينية؛ ^{[ 21 ]} وطُلب من مجموعة التحقيقات الجنائية لاحقًا نقل المتهمين إلى سجن في سامار. ^{[ 30 ]}

تم فصل جميعهم من الخدمة؛ ^{[ 31 ]} أربعة منهم في أواخر عام 2021. ^{[ 21 ]}

في عام ٢٠٢٣، وقبل يوم من ذكرى الحادثة، منحت المحكمة الإقليمية الابتدائية، الفرع ٣١، كفالة للمشتبه بهم ^{[ ٣٢ ]} قبل أن تتنحى القاضية عن القضية. ^{[ ٣١ ]} وأمرت المحكمة الإقليمية الابتدائية، الفرع ٣٣، بالإفراج المؤقت عنهم في ١٧ مارس. ^{[ ٣١ ]} ولا تزال المحاكمة جارية. ^{[ ٣٢ ]}