Rey Torres now in BBRC

Suspected notorious robber Ruel Rey Torres is now detained at the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center and will finally face charges against him starting with the arraignment of a robbery case today.

Torres who weighed 162 lbs. when arrested last June 14 in Monte Alegre Zamboanga Del Sur, now looks fragile and thin at 127 pounds after staying in the Cebu City Medical Center and having a leg amputated.

Torres was committed to the BBRC at about 10:30 a.m. yesterday under escort by five patrol cars, a motorcycle and men of the SRP Police, Mobile Patrol Group, Special Weapons and Tactics and the Crime Suppression Unit.

He was assigned to the jail's Infirmary Ward 3 where he joined 17 other inmates who were diagnosed with asthma and skin disease.

Torres was supposed to appear before the sala of judge Ramon Codilla yesterday at 8:30 a.m. for the arraignment of a frustrated murder case against him but he failed to appear as he was discharged from the hospital past 10 a.m.

This morning Torres will be brought to the sala of judge Eric Menchavez for the arraignment of a robbery case filed against him after he was identified as among those who robbed Eastwest Bank last January.

BBRC deputy warden Gil Inopia Inopia said Torres is no longer considered a high-risk prisoner as he cannot even walk alone and does not have crutches yet.

He said if there is a high-risk prisoner at BBRC it is Danny Limotan, once a partner of Torres.

Limotan, who was brought to BBRC last Wednesday, two days after he was arrested by a team led by Supt. Paul Labra in Valencia, Bukidnon, is detained at the holding cell along with former policeman Guillermo Wapille.

Garbed in a red sleeveless shirt and white short pants, Torres was picture of disability yesterday afternoon, as he had to rely on the strength of fellow inmates so he could get to reporters.

If he was referred as notorious and described as aggressive and bold before his arrest, he was none of these yesterday as he talked about the goodness of God and how he was made to survive to find the reason of his existence on earth.

"Pasalamat ko sa Ginoo nga niabot pa ko diri sa BBRC nga buhi. Gigiyahan tingala ko sa Ginoo. Mensahe ni aron magbag-o nako," Torres declared.

He said he stopped his medication three weeks ago because he could not afford it anymore.

Torres is alone now after his wife Edith left him to attend to their children in Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur, he is not sure when she will return to visit him.

"Isalig nalang nako sa Ginoo ang tanan," Torres said about the cases filed against him, "kapait gumikan kay naputol ang akong tiil."

CCMC director Myrna Go said the hospital released Torres yesterday upon receiving the go signal from the city through councilor Augustus Pe.

Pe said that Torres' bills worth P40,000 will be forwarded to the Office of Mayor Tomas Osmeña but fell short of saying the city will foot the bill.

Pe ordered Torres discharged so as not to compromise his safety at the hospital. Doctors have also recommended his release since he is already in a stable condition after the amputation. Torres' left leg was amputated last June 21 to save him from further infection according to doctors.

He was shot in the left leg after he reportedly shot it out with policemen led by Labra in Monte Alegre, Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur, last week.

He is wanted for a string of robberies in metro Cebu after victims and witnesses identified him as one of those who pulled out robberies. - Ryan P. Borinaga and Jasmin R. Uy