Police probers say Sugay a former Bilibid detainee

Documents obtained by the Manila police showed that Jose Noli Sugay, a former assistant of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, had been temporarily detained at the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa and had only posted bail for his release.

Sugay was among the suspects in the murder of one Regina Sy more than 20 years ago. He reportedly sought confinement at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) for fear of liquidation at the city jail.

Documents from the Bureau of Prisons showed that the suspect was detained in Muntinlupa for five years.

He was later released after posting bail on charges of parricide and murder and illegal possession of firearms upon the order of Judge Eutropio Migriño of Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 165 on Dec. 23, 1986.

The amount of the bail bond Sugay posted for his release was not indicated.

Chief Inspector Alejandro Yanquiling, chief of the Manila Police District-Homicide Section, said they are now trying to find out whether the subject cases are still open to effect Sugay’s arrest.

Yanquiling said Sugay cannot be arrested for the latest shooting incident because "police authority over him had ceased upon the filing of charges in court."

Authorities have to wait for a court-issued warrant to arrest Sugay, who is now facing charges of murder, two counts of attempted homicide and illegal discharge of firearms after he was tagged by witnesses as the person who shot Aries Luriz during a parking dispute in Tondo.

Yanquiling said the police are now looking at the alleged past criminal offenses of Sugay to be used as basis for his arrest.

‘Justice for Luriz’

At 3:30 p.m. yesterday, family and friends of the slain jeepney driver buried his remains at the North Cemetery, releasing white balloons and pigeons while carrying streamers and banners that called for "Justice for Aries Luriz."

During the ceremony, his mother Rosario could not control her grief and almost fainted.

She later said that each time she closed her eyes, she could see her son’s face.

Also attending the ceremony were members of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), which vowed would do an expose on the man tagged in the killing of Luriz.

VACC founding chairman Dante Jimenez expressed disgust over reports that Sugay had been previously convicted of murder and parricide.

"How he managed to go scot-free and obtain himself a position of executive assistant on police matters is beyond my comprehension," Jimenez said in a statement. "Perhaps, Mayor Atienza is in a better position too clarify this."

Earlier in the day, Atienza visited the last day of the wake of the 27-year-old jeepney driver and promised to give financial assistance to the family.

Atienza arrived at the victim’s house on Dagupan street in Tondo, Manila at 9 a.m. and stayed for an hour.

"I assured the family that I will help them and that they should not listen to nasty rumors. I assured them that justice would be met, but that due process should be followed," Atienza said.

The mayor said he offered to shoulder some of the financial expenses incurred by the family.

Although one of his aides is being tagged as the gunman, Atienza said he was given a warm welcome by the Luriz family. "Niyakap pa nga ako ng nanay ni Aries at pinagusapan namin yung kanyang agam-agam."

The mayor said he never felt like an unwelcomed guest. "Yayakapin ba ako kung di welcome ang presence ko. Sa mga nagkakalat ng ganitong balita tumulong na lang kayo sa tragedy, at huwag na magpabigat pa."

Atienza earlier asked that he be treated fairly since he was not even there when the incident happened. "All I want from media is to be fair. Huwag akong i-crucify, wala akong kinalaman dito. My enemies will feast on this."