Witness says Pajantoy acted in self-defense

The first defense witness in the murder case against policeman Juanito Pajantoy yesterday said the policeman only acted in self-defense when he shot and killed a suspected robber at the North Reclamation Area three years ago.

Martin Maramara, 62, said that he was on his way home from Carreta barangay hall at 9:00 a.m. on July 15, 2003 when he saw Pajantoy alight from a Tamaraw FX when it stopped at the intersection near the old White Gold department store and a surplus shop.

Maramara said a man wearing a striped shirt whom he later knew as Omar Patiño fired upon Pajantoy, prompting the policeman to return fire. Maramara said Patiño was then hit and slumped on the road.

Maramara denied the testimony of prosecution witness William Godinez, who claimed to have seen Patiño already kneeling begging for his life when being shot by Pajantoy. According to Maramara, he did not see Godinez during the incident, adding that he knew Godinez because he is his friend.

Graft investigator and prosecution officer Gaudioso Melendez said he noted several inconsistencies in Maramara's testimony but begged off from conducting the cross examination yesterday. Melendez moved that he be allowed to conduct the cross examination during the next hearing.

Melendez requested a copy of the stenographic notes of the direct examination of the witness before he would cross-examine him. Regional Trial Court judge Ireneo Gako Jr. would have not allowed Melendez to defer the cross examination until the next hearing, but the prosecutor asked for a reconsideration, citing that he was only recently assigned to prosecute the case.

Melendez said he is still studying the case because it was originally assigned to then graft investigator Macaundas Hadji Rasul, now a judge in Marawi City.

Gako scheduled the next hearing of the case on February 6 at 11:00 a.m. and on February 13 of the same time when former homicide chief Doroteo Mantos will be presented. Defense lawyer Paul Clarence Oaminal has already asked the court to issue a subpoena to Mantos. - Fred P. Languido