Hostage takers attend first hearing at Manila prosecutor’s office

Hostage takers Armando Ducat Jr. and Cesar Augustus Carbonell attended the first preliminary investigation of their cases yesterday morning at the Manila prosecutor’s office under heavy police guard.

Assistant city prosecutor Danilo Suarez furnished the two respondents, through their counsels, copies of the charges of serious illegal detention and violation of the Comelec’s gun ban.

The additional charges of 26 counts of child abuse shall be taken up in separate hearing, but Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo Jr. of the Manila Police District, acting as one of the complainants, requested that the child abuse charges be consolidated with the first two original charges.

Carbonell’s counsel William delos Santos objected to the MPD’s motion. Instead, the lawyers of the two accused told the fiscals that they will submit their counter-affidavits only for the original charges.

Both parties were advised that with the submission of counter affidavits the case shall be deemed submitted for resolution.

The next hearing is scheduled on April 10.

Meanwhile, a sudden downpour yesterday afternoon caused the abrupt dispersal of some 1,000 supporters of Ducat who conducted a picket in front of the Western Police District (WPD) headquarters.

The rallysist who said they are residents of Parola Compound in Tondo, Manila chanted "Free Ducat, Free Ducat" as riot policemen stood guard.

Ducat, for his part, reiterated that he is entitled to bail because he did not commit murder. He also threatened to go on hunger strike after the Holy Week if his petition for bail is not granted.

In an exclusive interview at his detention cell, Ducat said the complaint of serious illegal detention against him should not be pursued by the fiscal since the parents of the 26 schoolchildren he held hostage refused to file charges against him.

According to Ducat, the charge of illegal possession of explosives should also be dropped since the two grenades he was carrying at the time of the hostage taking are duds. He also insists that his Uzi assault rifle and the caliber .45 pistol of his accomplice, Cesar Augustus Carbonell, are all licensed.

"The only charge against me and Cesar which we admit is violation of the Comelec gun ban, a bailable offense. So why are we continuously detained," Ducat said in Filipino. He added that the additional charges of 26 counts of child abuse may not also prosper in court due to absence of "direct complainants."

He added that he will go on a hunger strike to pressure the court to grant him bail. "This is the only way I can dramatize my plight."

A certification from the Firearms and Explosives Division of the Philippine National Police showed Ducat is a licensed/registered firearms holder of "one pistol, Aaarius, caliber 9mm with serial number SA56916 issued/approved on Oct. 20, 2005 with expiry date on June 10, 2007."

The certification was signed by Superintendent Danilo Maligalig, chief of the PNP Records Section.