Court sets first hearing on Anikow case

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati regional trial court has set its first hearing on the murder case of former US Marine and US diplomatic spouse George Anikow tomorrow.

Assistant City Prosecutor Gilbert Alcala found probable cause to file murder charges against suspects Juan Alfonso Abastillas, 24; Crispin dela Paz, 28; Osric Cabrera, 27; and Galicano Datu III.

The case has been raffled off to Judge Winlove Dumayas of the Makati RTC Branch 59.

Meanwhile, city police chief Senior Superintendent Manuel Lukban said the accused have been transferred to the Makati City Jail pending resolution of their case.

The Makati prosecutor’s office gave credibility to the sworn statement of security guard Jose Rommel Saavedra and on the footage taken by the village’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, which caught the suspects beating up Anikow.

Police said Anikow, 41, a resident of Bel-Air Village, was declared dead on arrival at the Makati Medical Center.

Reports said a drunk Anikow was allegedly standing beside Saavedra when the suspects arrived in a gray Volvo SUV (TOJ-886) last Nov. 29.