Lawmaker seeks 2 rob suspects' transfer

Negros Occidental Rep. Jules Ledesma has sent a lawyer to “check on the condition” of two robbery suspects earlier arrested by Quezon City policemen and ask for their transfer to a detention facility in their home province.

Lawyer Danny Pondevilla, a “legal consultant” of the lawmaker, went to Camp Karingal yesterday to talk with Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit chief Superintendent Franklin Moises Mabanag about the case involving suspects Edgar Mellama and Kenny Relos.

Pondevilla admitted it was Ledesma who sent him to meet with QCPD officials after Mellama’s family, being among the lawmaker’s constituents in the fourth district of Negros Occidental, sought Ledesma’s help.

 “The family just asked help for us to check on their (suspects’) status (in jail),” Pondevilla told The STAR in an interview, saying that after he met with Mellama, he saw that the suspect was in good hands.

Pondevilla said they were also seeking the transfer of the suspects from the detention facility at Camp Karingal to a jail in San Carlos, Negros Occidental.

In a separate interview, Mabanag told reporters that the lawyer was saying the transfer would expedite their move for the lifting of another warrant of arrest issued against the two suspects by a Negros Occidental court.

Policemen arrested Mellama and Relos last Nov. 5 during a stakeout near a residence in Dupax Compound, Barangay Bagbag in Novaliches after the police received a tip that the residence in the area was being used by an alleged robbery group as a safe-house and meeting place.

Both Mellama and Relos are residents of Dasmariñas, Cavite and are natives of Escalante, Negros Occidental.

Chief Inspector Enrico Figueroa, chief of the Theft and Robbery Investigation Section, earlier said two witnesses of a break-in at the Balintawak branch of construction supply shop Wilcon Builders have identified the two to be among those who barged into the store.

However, only charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives were filed against them for the .38 caliber revolver and fragmentation grenade seized from them when they were arrested. The suspects have posted bail for both charges.

Mellama has pending arrest warrants issued by a Negros Occidental court for a murder charge filed against him. He was allegedly among those involved in the killing of a security escort of a mayoral candidate in Escalante town last year.

He also has pending warrants of arrest for illegal possession of firearms and theft.

As for Relos, he has arrest warrants for cases of robbery and car theft, also issued by a court in Negros Occidental.

As for the Mellama’s murder charge, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a resolution last July 30 reversing the earlier resolution of a fiscal in Negros Occidental.

According to Pondevilla, the DOJ’s decision was because the “statement of the wife of the victim (pointing to Mellama) was not credible.”

The lawyer said Mabanag has committed to release the two suspects for their transfer to a jail in San Carlos town once the Negros Occidental court has issued an order.