Security guards snub prosecutors’ hearing

Only four of the 21 Pasay City policemen submitted yesterday afternoon their counter-affidavits to the panel of state prosecutors in response to the homicide charges filed against them by the Southern Police District for the death of hostage victim Dexter Balala.

But all eight security guards of the Philtranco bus terminal in Malibay where the May 31 hostage drama took place, failed to appear on the first day of the preliminary investigation.

All 21 policemen, led by relieved Pasay City police chief Superintendent Eduardo de la Cerna, appeared before the panel composed of Second Assistant Chief Prosecutor Rodolfo Abrazaldo, and State Prosecutors Bernabe Solis and Clarissa Kuong.

Police Officer 2s Florante Nobleza and Roberto Gonzales, and PO1 Andito Guardian submitted their joint counter-affidavits assisted by their lawyer Amador Magdamit while PO3 Marco Duka was assisted by his own lawyer, Mario Martinez. De la Cerna, as well as Chief Inspector Reynaldo Baral, and Inspectors Edith Alter and Aquilino Almanza failed to submit their counter-affidavits. According to De la Cerna, he did not receive a copy of the subpoena issued by Chief City Prosecutor Francisco Beron last week. The police chief has hired the services of Walter Ong and Roberto Abad Santos.

For his part, Almanza has prepared his own counter-affidavit but said he could not afford a lawyer. He said he was told that the lawyers from the Public Assistance Office (PAO) in Pasay "have too many clients."

Lawyer Jim Baliad is representing SPO1 Alfredo Villa, PO3 Rodolfo Soquina, PO2s Ashley Gamulo, Leoncio Muñoz, and Raymond Sabino, PO1s Jay Martinez, Roland Garcia, Lemuel Galang, Christopher Torres, and Gregorio Mendoza. Those who were not able to give their counter-affidavits were given a 10 day extension by the panel to submit the requirements.

Abrazaldo, who heads the panel, warned that should the respondents fail to do so, the state prosecutors would consider it as a waiver. – Nikko Dizon