Man pleads 'not guilty' on stretcher

CEBU, Philippines - In what seemed to be a dramatic show of innocence, a man accused of murder appeared in court yesterday on a stretcher with a catheter still attached to his private part.

With three jail guards by his side and a public attorney Gerry Robertson as counsel, Elmer Colongan, 22, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

“Bisan ing-ani akong kahimtang ako ipakita sa korte nga wa gyud koy sala sama sa pag-atubang sa kaso,” Colongan said.

Colongan is on hospital arrest at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) after he was shot by PO2 Alex Ando Muanghog when he tried to shoot the policeman who was trying to arrest him last August 5, 2011. That day, Colongan allegedly killed a certain Eleuterio Illaconi Jr.

He sustained a gunshot wound on the back, which prevents him from standing. 

Investigation revealed that on August 5, 2011, Illaconi was in a basketball court when Colongan arrived on a motorcycle with two unidentified colleagues. Illaconi reportedly ran, but Colongan chased and shot him.

Muanghog, who happened to be in the area, then chased Colongan and asked the latter to surrender but Colongan allegedly pointed a gun at the policeman, which prompted Muanghog to shoot the suspect.

Muanghog recovered a .45 pistol from Colongan’s possession before the suspect was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center.

The jail guards who escorted Colongan to court admitted it was difficult to escort an inmate lying on a stretcher especially that they had to carry him in going up to the sala of Judge Sylvia Paderanga at the third floor of the Palace of Justice. The Palace of Justice does not have an elevator. – (FREEMAN)