American homicide convict hunted down

CEBU CITY — Authorities are hot on the trail of an American-Mexican homicide convict who escaped from his police escorts in Minglanilla town two weeks ago

The suspect, Michael Lopez, was convicted for the 1997 death of nursing student Wilfredo Cabonita, his classmate at St. Paul College.

Police records show that on Sept. 30, 1997, Lopez punched Cabonita in front of their classmates when he refused to give a pair of sunglasses he had demanded in exchange for the P100 debt he owed him.

Cabonita reportedly tried to run away, but Lopez managed to catch up with him and punched him on the abdomen, rendering him unconscious.

He died in the hospital seven days later due to internal hemorrhage.

Lopez was detained at the Bureau of Immigration Office in Bicutan, Manila after he was arrested in Cebu City in April 2001.

After he was convicted last May 8, Lopez asked his security escorts that he be allowed to drop by his home in Minglanilla to get money needed for his trip back to Manila, where he was to be imprisoned.

His security escorts — civil security unit officer Elmer Napilot of the immigration bureau’s Cebu office, and Marine M/Sgt. Jimmy Rodelas — obliged.

The two reportedly also had lunch at Lopez’s home. Lopez later asked them to remove his handcuffs so he could pack his things.

Rodelas accompanied Lopez upstairs, but reportedly went down after Lopez said he was just going to change into some fresh clothes.

Moments later, the escorts heard a commotion upstairs and rushed there to investigate, but Lopez was already gone.

It was later found out that Lopez had jumped seven feet down from the window.

Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo suspended Napilot for 90 days without pay, and recommended that Rodelas be court-martialed.

Cebu police director Maximo Calimlim said they still have had no trace of Lopez. He said Domingo called up his office last May 9 and asked for help in tracking down Lopez.

Calimlim said they are expecting the immigration bureau to provide them with Lopez’s pictures to help in the manhunt. — Freeman News Service