MANILA, Philippines - The camp of former Philippine Basketball Association import Jamelle Cornley is asking for an investigation on the charges filed against him after he allegedly made a scene and punched a police officer in Quezon City last month.
Cornley, through lawyer Lino Dumas, asked Judge Maria Gilda Pangilinan of Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 31 to return the case to the city prosecutor’s office and order a preliminary investigation on the alarm and scandal and direct assault charges filed against him.
He said he wanted “to avail his statutory right to a preliminary investigation as part of his fundamental right to due process.â€
The case did not undergo preliminary investigation and was filed before the court following inquest proceedings on April 1. Based on the Rules of Court, the case against a person lawfully arrested without a warrant may be filed without a preliminary investigation “provided an inquest has been conducted in accordance with existing rules.â€
It added, however, that “the accused may, within five days from the time he learns of its filing, ask for a preliminary investigation with the same right to adduce evidence in his defense as provided in this Rule.â€
The former Rain or Shine import was arrested on March 27 after punching PO2 Anselmo Lazatin of the Quezon City Police District, who responded to a scene at a hotel along Timog Avenue where the cager reportedly trashed computers and other equipment in a drunken fit.
He allegedly created trouble after discovering that his money worth $1,500 was missing after checking in with three women.
Cornley was released on April 1 after posting P14,000 bail.