Rockwell CCTV operator testifies in Anikow murder hearing

MANILA, Philippines - A closed circuit television (CCTV) camera operator of the Rockwell Center in Makati City testified on Thursday on the continuing hearing of the murder case of American Marine George Anikow at the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 59.

Security officer Leo Puri said the almost two hours of video footage taken by two Rockwell CCTV cameras on the mauling and fatal stabbing of Anikow in the early hours of Nov. 24 was an exact copy of the footage stored in the main CCTV hard drive of the Rockwell Cemter. Puri told the court that the digital video disc (DVD) presented in court was the same disc of the incident’s footage which he had burned on orders from his superior, Damasino Dosohan.

Dosohan earlier testified in court that the Makati Police had earlier requested the security of Rockwell Center for a copy of the incident footage as captured by the CCTVs of the Rockwell Center.

Assistant City Prosecutor Hannah Arriola explained to presiding 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. Judge 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 Judge Dumayas to order that the CCTV hard drive containing the original footage be submitted to court when the hearing resumed on Thursday.

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 have indeed conspired to murder 41-year old Anikow, a US Marine and husband of an American diplomat stationed in Manila.

Last week, the lawyers of the accused asked the court to allow their clients to post bail saying that the evidence is weak against them.

Arriola however said the prosecution panel has enough evidence and witnesses to pin down the accused for murder and deny them bail.

“Let’s view the original footage. The prosecution has nothing to hide. The CCTV footage is vital to the prosecution,” she said.

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 sports utility vehicle (TOJ-886) around 3:55 am on November 24. Police said the suspects intended to enter the village as a “short cut” 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 strongly tapped 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 inside the SUV.