Raps set vs road rage killer

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Pasay City police are set to jointly file murder charges against Basher Abdulrahman, the primary suspect in the slaying of Ateneo law school graduate Jose Ramon Llamas.

According to NBI-Metro Manila chief Edmund Arugay, they will first hold a final case conference with their police counterparts and Llamas’ lawyers before filing the case with the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office.

"We really have to be sure that this case is air-tight," Arugay said.

Earlier, three deformed slugs retrieved at the crime scene matched the slug specimens from Abdulrahman’s gun, a registered 9mm Taurus pistol.

Under the guidelines of the Philippine National Police-Firearms and Explosives Division, registered firearms have to be test fired at Camp Crame. The slugs and shells from the firing are then kept for record purposes.

Llamas, 26, died after sustaining three gunshot wounds in the body. Initial investigation showed that Llamas was shot following a traffic altercation with Abdulrahman last Jan. 10 at the corner of Taft and Gil Puyat avenues in Pasay City.

Last Monday, agents of the NBI met with their Pasay City police counterparts to compare notes on the case.

"We have strong evidence against him (Abdulrahman). Not only do we have witnesses who saw him shoot Llamas, we also have a police sketch and slugs from his gun," said Arugay.

Meanwhile, the NBI is still intensifying manhunt operations against the suspected gunman. Sources at the NBI have denied reports that Abdulrahman is hiding in Pampanga.

"If we knew where he was, he should have been in our custody by now," said an NBI agent.

Earlier, NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco told reporters that they are checking reports that Abdulrahman, a native of Marawi City and a resident of Quiapo, may have fled to a Muslim community in Palawan to elude authorities.

Abdulrahman has been tagged as the primary suspect after he was confirmed to be the last owner of the Kawasaki motorcycle that was abandoned at the crime scene.

Religion immaterial

"Whether he is a Muslim or a Christian is immaterial. The point is, he took a life and he must be brought to justice."

This was what lawyer and Aquila Legis fraternity member Vic Verdadero said as his group stepped up efforts in helping authorities find the killer of Llamas, a fraternity brother.

In a phone interview, Verdadero said he has sought the help of fellow Aquilan and Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen after authorities identified Llamas’ killer to be a Muslim named Basher Abdulrahman.

"We are reaching out to our Muslim brothers and asking for their help," Verdadero said. He heads the three-lawyer panel organized by Aquila Legis for the Llamas case.

Authorities earlier admitted that it has always been difficult to find Muslim suspects because of the tendency of their communities to coddle them.

Verdadero said Dilangalen, a Muslim leader, also stressed that the suspect’s religion is "immaterial" in the case.

The lawyer added the Llamas family and their friends have "high hopes" that authorities would be able to arrest Abdulrahman.

Nevertheless, Verdadero said, the fraternity is also tapping its own "network" to help authorities. – With Nikko Dizon