Policeman Mangubat case petition for Habeas Corpus turned down

CEBU, Philippines - Regional Trial Court Branch 18 presiding Judge Gilbert Moises yesterday denied the petition for a writ of habeas corpus for Alfredo Llamedo Rama on the ground that there is already a case filed against Rama for illegal possession of firearms and drug dealing.

Rama's mother, Angela, in her petition stated that at around 6:00 in the morning of March 20, 2011, police officers armed with long firearms immediately arrested her son near their residence in Upper Villa Bulsita, Bulacao Pardo, Cebu City without a warrant of arrest.

Mangubat, a rookie policeman, was killed while responding to a robbery alarm in sitio Mananga 2, barangay Tabunok, Talisay City last March 11, 2011.

Rama, 42, was arrested while in possession of a caliber .45 pistol loaded with 5 live bullets and illegal drugs amounting to more or less P35,000.

Police Superintendent Rodolfo Albotra, PIB chief said the police are now cross-matching the caliber .45 pistol and its 5 ammunitions to the empty shells and slug found in the crime scene to determine if the firearm used is one and the same.

Albotra said the police are now looking for a certain "Noel" named by Rama and the "Noel Pacaña" the police have identified as one of those suspected of killing Mangubat.

"This Noel is one of the possible suspects in the crime but we have to be sure if this Noel is one and the same person involved in the Mangubat case," he said, adding that they will solve the case as soon as possible.

Rama was charged yesterday for violation of Republic Act 8294.

An P80,000 bail is recommended.

Rama was likewise charged separately yesterday for violating Section e of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the "Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002". No bail is recommended.

Senior Superintendent Patrocinio Comendador, officer-in-charge of the Cebu Provincial Police Office will not intervene in the investigation of the Mangubat case but assured he would extend his assistance if necessary.

He said he will let the acting chief of police in Talisay City Errol Francis Deyvera to manage the investigation and to supervise his men.

Deyvera assumed his post recently after former police chief Henry Biñas resigned from his position.

Deyvera has sent police officers to the Mananga Bridge, Talisay City to secure the area from robbers.

A team comprising of six policemen man the interior portion of the bridge during the day while another team take over in the evening.

This after Mangubat was shot dead.

A police outpost is planned to be constructed near the bridge but Comendador said he will still have to check the number of policemen available.

"I'll check if there are enough men to man the area," Comendador said. (FREEMAN)