Judge orders transfer of Bersamin slay suspect to Crame

The key suspect in the murder of Abra Rep. Luis "Chito" Bersamin was taken to the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame yesterday afternoon, after a judge ordered his transfer from his detention cell at the Quezon City police amid reports that hired killers are out to "silence" him.

Panday was taken to the custodial center at around 2:25 p.m. after he underwent medical examination at the PNP General Hospital.

SPO1 Eulogio Mabagay of the PNP Custodial Center said only members of his family and his lawyer, Charlie Angeles, are allowed to visit him.

Judge Luisito Cortez of RTC Branch 88 ordered his transfer after lawyers of the defense and prosecution agreed during yesterday’s hearing that he should be committed to Camp Crame because of alleged threats.

Panday is facing two counts of murder for killing Bersamin and his police escort, SPO1 Adolfo Ortega, outside Mt. Carmel Church in New Manila, Quezon City last Dec. 16.

He was arrested by Quezon City police homicide operatives led by Superintendent Franklin Mabanag after the getaway motorcycle was traced to him and he later led investigators to recover one of the firearms allegedly used in the crime.

In his first statement to the police, he implicated Abra Gov. Vicente Valera as the alleged mastermind in the killing.

Panday later retracted his statement, claiming that he was forced to sign the statement and was tortured by the police.

"As far as the prosecution is concerned we have a very strong case against Panday," assistant city prosecutor Ferdinand Baylon told reporters after the hearing.

He said the prosecution has amended the information after the cases of murder and frustrated murder were consolidated into the sala of Judge Cortez.

Panday’s daughter, Nancy, who was present during the hearing said her father was subjected to psychological torture at the Quezon City detention cell.

Mabanag, however, denied the charges and said Panday was never subjected to any form of torture. He said the police had even allowed a 24-hour watch on Panday by relatives, including a lawyer who is always near his detention cell.

He said though that the threat on the life of Panday was real, as police intelligence has monitored two vans with eight men from Abra reportedly out to kill Panday.

He added that the threat was so serious in the early stage of the investigation that even the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology is reluctant to have Panday detained in the facility.

Thus, Panday is now classified as a high-risk detainee who must be provided with all the necessary security.

Mabanag said that Panday’s transfer would enable them now to concentrate their efforts to hunt the other suspects who are still at large.

Task Force Bersamin, which is composed of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the National Bureau of investigation (NBI), has joined the nationwide manhunt for the suspects.

"We will get them," Mabanag vowed. — Perseus Echeminada