Ex-security guard Nemuel Sumabong, suspect in the ambush of lawyer Richard William Sison last May, will be asking the court to subpoena several police officials as hostile witnesses in the murder case against him.
Cebu City Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador disclosed yesterday that Sumabong wanted him to testify along with Senior Inspector George Ylanan of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau and Supt. Paul Labra, CIIB’s Deputy for Operations, to prove that Sumabong was not among the suspects pursued by the police.
Should the court issue the subpoena, Comendador said they would be willing to testify and tell the court the result of their investigation.
Last month, Comendador disclosed that the cartographic sketch of the suspect done by the NBI was far different from that of the city police. It was the NBI that eventually arrested Sumabong also last month.
“We didn’t come across his name (Sumabong), wala siya mo-crop up sa among investigation but in fairness to the NBI, maybe they have their own information about him,” Comendador told the press last month.
Sumabong also reportedly did not have any criminal record, as far as the city police office is concerned, Comendador said.
Despite the differences in investigation results, Comendador had clarified the city police office would support the NBI.
Sison was ambushed and killed while waiting for a traffic light to change at the corner of V. Sotto St. and M.J. Cuenco Ave. morning on May 21, 2008.
Sumabong has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charge during arraignment.
He even asked Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras to inhibit from the case, citing the judge’s relationship with the slain lawyer because they are both reserve officers of the Army. – Joy Kareen T. Saliente/JMO