Frustrated slay case vs ex-Cebu cop up for ruling

CEBU — The frustrated murder case filed against a former policeman and three others for allegedly attempting to kill a key witness to a killing is set for promulgation on Nov. 25.

It is now the turn of Regional Trial Court Judge Eric Menchavez to evaluate all the pieces of evidence presented by both sides and decide whether to convict or acquit former policeman Engilberto Durano and his fellow accused for trying to kill Lloyd Carampatan on March 3, 2001.

Durano, accused of fatally shooting tricycle driver Rogelio Bacalso in Busay on Dec. 22, 2000, was brought to court under guard the other day from the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center.

He was the last defense witness, but prosecution lawyers Fritz Quiñanola and Alfredo Sipalay said his testimony was a mere alibi.

Aside from Durano, the other respondents are Roy Pineda, Ricky Singh and Leonardo Gopar.

Carampatan and his family were forced to abandon their house in Busay and stay inside the police camp for fear of reprisal from Durano who threatened to go after them after Carampatan testified that he personally saw the former policeman shoot Bacalso.

But before Durano was arrested on Aug. 8, 2002, the prosecutors said Pineda befriended Carampatan in the police camp.

On March 3, 2001, Pineda convinced Carampatan to go with him to a mall, but on their way there he shot Carampatan, telling him "Sorry kaayo, Lloyd, kay igo ra kong gisugo ni Durano (I’m very sorry, Lloyd, I am just following Durano’s orders)."

After shooting Carampatan, Pineda ran toward a waiting car. Before he lost his consciousness, Carampatan said he saw Durano, Gopar and Singh inside the car.

Singh is an Indian who became Durano’s friend after he sought the policeman’s help in recovering his stolen motorcycle, Sipalay said.

In 2004, Durano was meted life imprisonment for killing Bacalso.

Carampatan, his parents, four siblings and three-year-old son have been living inside the police camp since he testified against Durano. — Freeman News Service