Witness: I didn't see Pajantoy shoot Sarcol

The prosecution yesterday presented its second and last witness, as it rested its case in the continuing hearing for bail petition of the murder case against SPO4 Juanito Pajantoy. This paved the way for the defense to have its turn to present its witnesses, starting on Monday.

The statements of the second witness, Rodel Patindol, however contradicted those of the first witness, William Godinez.

Patindol, a salesman of a food firm, claimed he saw the slain policeman PO3 Manuel Sarcol carrying a gun and even fire a warning shot to the air while chasing the robbery suspect Omar Patiño alongside Pajantoy.

This contravened Godinez' earlier testimonies that Sarcol did not fire any shot because he had no gun then. Godinez also alleged Pajantoy was behind Sarcol while chasing Patiño, and that he saw Pajantoy shoot Sarcol.

Patindol told the court that on July 15, 2003 he was riding a multicab along General Maxilom Avenue and just in time when the vehicle stopped for the red light, he saw the incident resulting in the killing of Sarcol and Patiño. He however said he never saw who killed the two.

Patindol narrated that after the first shot broke out, he covered his head on the front seat of the multicab before looking back at the scene. As the second shot rang out, he docked again but when he looked back, he saw "Sarcol's chest already oozing with blood."

Patindol admitted he never saw who actually fired the second shot that killed Sarcol. But he said he saw Pajantoy, wearing a black shirt at the time, cuddling the body of Sarcol before carefully putting it back to the ground.

Patindol said that he then saw Pajantoy aim a gun at the standing Patiño, about seven to eight meters away. Patiño however was facing toward the policeman, "raising his hands and slowly bending his knees," said Patindol.

Upon seeing this, Patindol said he hid himself again and shortly after he heard the third shot. When he looked back, Patiño was already lying on the ground, two and a half arms' length from where Sarcol was.

In the middle of the direct examination, Judge Ireneo Gako Jr. was forced to suspend temporarily the hearing for a few minutes when Patindol showed signs of fainting spells. Patindol vomited when he got out of the courtroom.

The prosecution was supposed to present another witness on Monday but it reconsidered because the slated witness will only be testifying on earlier issued sworn statements. Sensing it would just be a waste of time, the prosecution decided to rest its case.

Gako then directed the defense to submit on Monday its memorandum on petition to bail and to present S/Insp. Mutchit Salinas, the forensic expert who made the chemistry report on the paraffin tests on the victims.