Bersamin slay suspect seeks dismissal of case

The alleged lookout in the killing of Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin and his police escort sought yesterday the dismissal of the double frustrated and murder case filed against him before a Quezon City court.

Rufino Panday, through his lawyers Galeleo Angeles and Julito Abing, cited in a motion to quash that he was arrested without a warrant three days after Bersamin was murdered last Dec. 16.

Assistant city prosecutor Ferdinand Baylon opposed the motion and asked the court for 20 days to answer the allegations of Panday, who earlier confessed to police investigators his involvement in the killing.

Judge Luisito Cortes of the Regional Trial Court branch 84 reset the hearing on March 28.

During yesterday’s hearing, Cortes also asked Panday if he was already comfortable in his new place of detention at the Philippine National Police custodial center at Camp Crame.

The court earlier ordered the transfer of the suspect after he claimed that he was subjected to psychological torture by the Quezon City police.

The Quezon City police, however, refuted this by saying Panday’s constitutional rights were respected and that he was even provided with a lawyer from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines while under custodial investigation. – Perseus Echeminada