PIIB now has result of probe into 'attempt to murder' Simon Lao

Provincial Intelligence and Investigation Branch chief Juanito Enguerra yesterday said they already have the result on the investigation into the alleged attempt to kill Simon Lao, a witness in the case on the seizure of the shabu laboratory in Mandaue City two years ago.

Enguerra said Lao did not know the alleged assailant since he was just 10 meters away from the gunman, but the PIIB chief added that he could not conclude that Lao was really the subject of an assassination.

Enguera said it was possible there was someone who ordered the shooting in order to justify the move to increase funds for the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, and the transfer of political detainee Eduardo Sacamay to the military's Central Command.

The Cebu Provincial Police Office director asked the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on how it came to know and release the cartographic sketch of the gunman since Lao did not identify the gunman.

Meanwhile, the Regional Peace and Order Council agreed that suspects released with commitment order by the judge based in a municipality should be detained at the municipal jail instead of committing them to the CPDRC.

This move is aimed at decongesting the jail facility, whose inmates have reached the maximum capacity of 1,600 persons. When the new CPDRC building started operations in 2004, it had only 1,200 inmates. - Norvie S. Misa and Cristina C. Birondo