3 cops, 4 Indians ordered arrested

Manila, Philippines - A Pasay regional trial court (RTC) has issued an arrest warrant for three Quezon City policemen and four Indian nationals who were accused of attempting to kidnap an Indian sect president and killing his two friends last December.

But Khalsidawan Inc. president James Kumar cried foul over what he called a “watered down” ruling, released Friday, against Chief Inspector Edwin Faycho, Police Officer 2 Edwin Faculdar, PO1 Mark Edward Zapata, as well as Indian nationals Gurdanshan Singh, Saudagar Singh, Deepak Kumar (no relation to the victim) and Baldev Singh Brar.

“Why were the cases against Faycho and Faculdar weakened when Capt. Apolinario identified Faycho as one of the attackers?” Kumar said, referring to Senior Inspector Renato Apolinario, who was shot several times after running to Kumar’s aid on Dec. 20, 2010.

Kumar and friends Andie Ngie and Ferdinand Ret were then traversing Harrison street when Faycho’s group allegedly attacked them. Apolinario approached them after seeing the commotion but was shot. Kumar was able to run away, but Faycho’s group allegedly kidnapped Ngie and Ret, whose bodies were later found in separate provinces.

The Pasay City police initially charged the respondents with kidnapping with double murder for the deaths of Ngie and Ret; attempted kidnapping and frustrated homicide for the foiled abduction and shooting of Kumar; and direct assault and frustrated murder for the shooting of Apolinario.

Carjacking charges were also slapped against them for allegedly commandeering Ngie’s van, which remains missing.

Prosecutors Orlando Mariano, Teresa Cabalum, and panel head Artemio Puti said there is probable cause to try the accused for the charges of direct assault with frustrated murder, attempted murder, and carjacking with double homicide.

In her June 28 order, however, Judge Maria Rosario Ragasa of RTC Branch 108 said “there is no probable cause” to issue arrest warrants against Faycho and Faculdar for the charges of carjacking with double homicide. Both policemen are handled by lawyer Raul Bo.

On the other hand, Ragasa issued arrest warrants and recommended no bail against the five others for the same offense.

The court issued arrest warrants for the seven accused for the charges direct assault with frustrated murder and attempted murder. A bail of P200,000 and P120,000, respectively, were recommended for each of the seven respondents.

Pasay City police chief Senior Superintendent Napoleon Cuaton said he will order the filing of a motion for reconsideration to ask Ragasa to include Faculdar and Faycho in the homicide case, saying the judge “might have overlooked” some facts.

“How come there is a case for the Indians and Zapata but none for the two, when they all belong to just one group?” Cuaton said, adding that Zapata only follows orders from Faycho, his senior.