Alleged lawyer's son engages police in a chase

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged son of a lawyer reportedly aimed his gun at one of the customers of a resto bar on Salinas Drive, Barangay Lahug and engaged responding policemen in a chase while he tries to escape apprehension early morning yesterday.

Reports said at least three cars of the Mobile Patrol Group, with body numbers 004, 013, and 017 responded to the alarm at 6 a.m. after a certain Lance, an employer of a convenience store somewhere in Salinas Drive called for police assistance.

Lance told police that a man pointed a gun against one of the customers at a resto bar and later boarded his gray Honda Accord vehicle with plate numbers GHR-641 and sped away.

The MPG personnel were able to spot the vehicle near a university in Barangay Lahug and chased it until they saw it stopped and parked at the residence of lawyer Edgar Gica in Beverly Hills Subdivision.

Police said the car’s plate numbers matched that one described by Lance but since the car’s windshields are tinted, they were not able to see who was driving it. All five children of Gica, allegedly three boys and a girl, all know how to drive.

Atty. Gica, who was awakened by the presence of the police, faced the latter and told them he was not aware that the car was used and that all he knew was that it was parked at their garage since last night and saw it still parked at the time he woke up.

The police asked the lawyer to have the vehicle’s machine checked if it was still hot, but he declined saying he would only cooperate if the police can show the complainant.

Gica allegedly told the police that he understands their task but they also have to observe due process and have a complainant who could positively identify the alleged culprit.

MPG chief Arnel Banzon said that they just responded to a call for assistance and that they could not force Gica to turn over the vehicle to them unless a complainant surfaces. — Niña G. Sumacot/WAB (THE FREEMAN)