2 cops plead not guilty to robbery

CEBU, Philippines – Two policemen, who are facing robbery with violence and intimidation complaint, pleaded not guilty during the arraignment of their case yesterday.

SPO1 Ahmed Lozano and PO2 Alex Hermoso pleaded not guilty before Regional Trial Court Branch 17 Judge Simeon Dumdum to the crime committed. One of the accused, Jay Lozano Bolado, a private individual, is still at large.

Graft prosecutor Julius Java elevated the case of Lozano, Hermoso and Bolado to the court after finding probable cause that the three accused helped each other to gain and steal the belongings of Jay Mark Deodoro three years ago.

Java said he gave the accused an opportunity to submit controverting evidences but they failed to do so.

Deodoro stated that on September 5, 2007, at 3:30 p.m., he alighted from a taxi when Lozano appeared before him with a firearm tucked in his waist. He added that Lozano told him to board a motorcycle and said, "Don't make any move, so that your skull will not be blown out, you are high, you sniff shabu."

Deodoro said because of fear, he rode on the motorcycle of Lozano while Hermoso and Bolado followed them on board their own motorcycles.

When they reached Katipunan St. in Labangon, Lozano ordered Deodoro to alight from the motorcycle. The three then frisked him despite his protest.

Deodoro claimed that Hermoso took his wallet containing more than P41,800 and his driver's license. Bolado took his wristwatch worth P5,000 and his cellular phone worth P7,000.

Meanwhile, in a joint motion for reconsideration of Lozano, Hermoso and Bolado filed on September 8, 2010 in relation to the decision of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military, finding probable cause against them, they admitted they failed to submit counter-affidavits.

"The reason for our failure to promptly submit our counter-affidavits and supporting evidence is that we are assigned to different agencies which, in turn, brought us to different places which made it difficult for us to gather evidence to refute the accusations raised against us by the complainant," the three accused explained.

Lozano stated Deodoro lied because on the day the alleged crime happened, he was in Capilan, Siquijor. (FREEMAN)