CCTV operator testifies in Anikow murder trial

MANILA, Philippines - A closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera operator of the Rockwell Center in Makati City testified yesterday in the trial of four men suspected of beating and stabbing United States Marine George Anikow on Nov. 24.

Security officer Leo Puri said the nearly two hours of video footage taken by two Rockwell CCTV cameras of the attack on Anikow was an exact copy of the footage stored in the main CCTV hard drive of the Rockwell Center.

He told the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 59 that the digital video disc (DVD) presented in court yesterday was the same disc of the footage documenting the incident he had copied upon orders from his superior, Damasino Dosohan.

Dosohan earlier testified in court that the Makati police had earlier requested Rockwell Center’s security office for a copy of the incident footage as captured by its CCTV cameras.

Assistant City Prosecutor Hannah Arriola explained to Judge Winlove Dumayas that the hard drive of the Rockwell Center CCTV system could not be presented in court as removing it would disrupt the CCTV system’s operation.

Arriola then asked the court if the prosecution and defense panels could review the original footage at the Rockwell Center’s security room on Monday morning. Dumayas granted the request.

During the last hearing of the case last month, the prosecution tried to present in court the CCTV footage as copied by Puri into the DVD. However, defense lawyers question its authenticity, prompting Dumayas to order that the CCTV hard drive containing the original footage be submitted to court when the hearing resumed yesterday.

Arriola told reporters that the CCTV footage would prove that suspects Juan Alfonso Abastillas, 24; Crispin dela Paz, 28; Osric Cabrera, 27; and Galicano Datu III, 22, a student of the De La Salle University conspired to murder 41-year-old Anikow, a US Marine and husband of an American diplomat stationed in Manila.

Makati police earlier said Anikow, a resident of the Bel-Air Village, was being checked by security guards at the gate when the four suspects arrived aboard a gray Volvo sport utility vehicle or SUV (TOJ-886) around 3:55 a.m. on Nov. 24. Police said the suspects intended to enter the village as a “shortcut” to Palm Village, where Cabrera lives.

Police said Abastillas, who was driving the SUV, rolled down his window and talked to the security guard when Anikow reportedly interrupted them and said: “You need to present your ID, the guard is checking you.”

Police said Abastillas initially ignored Anikow but before the SUV could move away, Anikow allegedly pounded the driver side portion and rear passenger side of the vehicle. This caused the suspects to alight and confront Anikow. Police said village security guards tried to mediate but the argument soon turned into a brawl.

During the brawl, Anikow ran away from the suspects who then chased him. When the four caught up with Anikow, police said they continued to beat him up until he fell to the ground. It was later learned that Anikow was also stabbed in the neck during the fight.

Police later recovered a tactical knife in the SUV.