Two cops cleared of charges after witness disappears

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Trial Court yesterday dismissed a homicide case against two policemen after the complainant signed an affidavit of desistance reportedly because her witness is nowhere to be found.

Cleared from charges were P. Insp. Jimmy Fortes and PO2 Calixto Perez of the Cebu City Police Office.

The complainant, Evangelina Luardo Labora, filed her affidavit of desistance yesterday.

The missing witness, Renerio Perame, was reportedly with the two policemen when Perez and Labora’s son Julius engaged in a scuffle last March 9 in barangay Calamba.

Perame, who had surrendered to the police, had narrated he was with Perez and Fortes when Julius walked passed them. Perez reportedly noticed Julius holding something suspicious and demanded that the latter show it to him.

Because the victim allegedly resisted, a scuffle ensued between him and Perez. Moments later, a gunshot was heard and Julius sprawled bloodied to the ground. The two policemen reportedly rushed from the scene.

Perame said he wanted to bring Julius to the hospital but was too “tensed” that he also scampered away.

Later, with his conscience reportedly bothering him, Perame decided to seek the help of Calamba barangay captain Jojo Quijano who accompanied him in reporting the incident to the police.

After the case reached the court, however, Perame reportedly just went missing. — Jasmin R. Uy/JMO     (THE FREEMAN)