CEBU, Philippines - Former Lezo, Aklan mayor Alfredo Arsenio will remain at Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) after the court denied the motion for his transfer to the Cebu City Jail.
Judge Sylvia Paderanga of the Regional Trial Court Branch 16, in an open court ruled that since the crime was committed outside Cebu City, the accused has to be detained in CPDRC.
The Cebu Provincial Government earlier filed a motion to transfer Arsenio to a Cebu City jail saying CPDRC is just for inmates from Cebu.
Arsenio has been ordered detained in Cebu to prevent him from harassing or influencing witnesses in Aklan.
Lawyer Ritchie Capahi said the order for Arsenio’s detention in Cebu did not specify that he should be committed in the CPDRC.
“The court did not specifically mention (the jail) but he was from Aklan. By natural course, he should be detained at CPDRC,” Paderanga said.
Arsenio, who was accused of killing Bombo Radyo dyIN station manager Heherson “Boy” Hinolan in 2004, was in the limelight twice early this year because of his unauthorized lunch out with his lawyer and a jail guard in a restaurant near the Palace of Justice and for holding a birthday party at the jailwarden’s office of CPDRC.
Two jailwardens were suspended after the incidents were reported in the media.
Meanwhile, the defense presented their second vital witness yesterday.
Eddie Atrata, a security guard of a gas station on Maagma corner Mabini St. in Aklan, testified that he was on duty when the crime was committed.
He claimed that he saw a man wearing green jacket chasing another man who was later identified as Hinolan.
The man in green jacket, who was holding a gun, fell on a ramp about six meters away from him.
He stood up and continued chasing Hinolan. Then, he heard three gun shots.
Minutes later, a tricycle passed by the gasoline station with a blooded man on board.
Atrata said he learned that the victim was Hinolan after the tricycle driver told him about the incident.
Atrata said after the shooting, police investigators asked him to describe the gunman.
Atrata said he can identify the gunman if he sees him again. But he is certain the gunman was not Arsenio.
Lawyer Eduardo Arriba said the testimony of their witness will establish that he saw the assailant chased the victim on November 13, 2004.
However, Hinolan’s wife said the statements of the witness were all lies. (FREEMAN)