Suspected cop killer arrested

CEBU, Philippines - After years of searching, one of the men accused of killing a former policeman was finally arrested Thursday while confined at Cortes Hospital in Mandaue City.

Ibrahim Haji Hasim, alias Ibrahim Sultan, of legal age, residing in barangay Mantuyong, Mandaue City, was arrested on the strength of a warrant of arrest for murder issued by Hon. Ulric Cañete of the 7th Judicial Region, Branch 55 of Mandaue City last March 8, 2010.

Insp. Ramil Morpos, deputy chief of Investigation and Detection Management Branch (IDMB), said the search for Hasim here ended when it was learned that he had gone to Mindanao.

But yesterday, they received reports that the man was confined at the hospital. The arrest warrant was immediately served to him.

Morpos said Hasim was confined due to high fever.

Four policemen are now guarding Hasim to prevent him from escaping.

Once Hasim is discharged from the hospital, he would be committed to the Mandaue City Jail since no bail has been recommended for his case.

Hasim is one of the suspects who shot dead Radjek Urao Ismael, alias Boy Muslim, 42, in November 12, 2009.

Prior to the incident, Ismael, a native of Santa Catalina, Zamboanga City, was talking with Hasim who was with two other men identified as Jason Adjibon, 32, married of barangay Buwahan, Basilan province and Amir Dalimbang Adacul of barangay Mantuyong, Mandaue City.

The four men were talking inside Hasim's rented house at 8:00 in the evening.

When Ismael's wife, Aiza, heard successive bursts of gunfire, she immediately went home to check and found the body of her husband lying lifeless on the floor.

Their 4-year-old child witnessed the incident as he was inside their house watching television.

The child identified Adjibon as the man who shot his father and the cohorts were Adacul and Hasim.

The two other suspects remain at large, Morpos said. (FREEMAN)