Prosecution panel formed to try 3 QC cops, 5 others for kidnap-slay

MANILA, Philippines - A three-man panel of government prosecutors was formed yesterday to conduct a preliminary investigation into the charges filed against three Quezon City policemen and five others for the kidnapping and murder of the friends of Indian sect temple president James Khumar.

The panel will be headed by senior assistant city prosecutor Artemio Puti and co-chaired by prosecutors Orlando Mariano and Teresa Cabalum.

Puti told The STAR that the preliminary investigation will be held every Wednesday at 2 p.m. starting Jan. 26 at the City Hall’s session hall. He said they were given 90 days by chief city prosecutor Elmer Mitra to finish the probe.

“Usually we are only given 60 days to conduct the probe but they made an exemption because the case is sensitive in nature,” Puti said.

Last Friday, the Pasay City police filed two counts of murder against Chief Inspector Edwin Faycho, Police Officer 2 Edmund Faculdar, and PO1 Mark Edmund Zapata for the kidnap-slay of Khumar’s friends Andy Ngie and Ferdinand Ret last Dec. 20.

The same charges were also filed against Indian nationals Gurdanshan Singh, Saudagar Singh, Deepak Khumar, and Baldev Sing Brar, and one Charles Lou Pineda, who allegedly introduced himself as a National Bureau of Investigation asset.

They are also facing attempted kidnapping and frustrated homicide for the foiled abduction of Khumar. A direct assault and frustrated murder case were also slapped against them for the shooting of policeman Renato Apolinario, who came to Khumar’s aid.

Also last Friday, the National Police Commission began its own investigation of Faycho, the Quezon City police’s anti-drug chief, and his men following the orders of the Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, according to Owen de Luna, acting assistant service chief of Napolcom’s inspection monitoring and investigation service.