Bank rob suspect skips arraignment yesterday

The bail posted by Joel Sumabong, the alleged mastermind in the robbery of the Bogo branch of Land Bank of the Philippines, may be cancelled after he failed to appear during yesterday's arraignment of his case.

Regional Trial Court Judge Estela Singco warned Sumabong and his co-accused, Dindo Ancero, that if they will not attend during the rescheduled arraignment on January 30, she would issue a warrant for their arrest.

The arraignment yesterday was supposed to be the first hearing of the case after the Supreme Court granted the transfer of its venue from Bogo to Cebu City.

"Kun ako lang ang pasultion my client failed to appear for security reasons," Sumabong's legal counsel Ramesis Villagonzalo said while waiting for his client for several minutes inside the courtroom.

Villagonzalo, however, admitted that his last contact with his client was four months ago. "I hope motunga na siya (Sumabong) sa next hearing kay kuyaw ma-cancel ang iyang gi-bond ug ma isyuhan pa gyud siya og warrant."

Among the accused, only Jojo Ancajas showed up during yesterday's arraignment, in which he entered a plea of not guilty.

However, Ancajas' legal counsel Glen Villariza asked the court for a preliminary investigation before the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office.

It was Sumabong who earlier asked the Supreme Court to transfer the venue of the hearing of the case for fear that the Martinez family would hit back at him for implicating Bogo mayor Celestino "Tining" Martinez III in the robbery.

The regional police office earlier dismissed Mayor Martinez's participation in the case despite Sumabong's statement. - Ramil V. Ayuman