Balintang shooting: Court asked to order PCG exec’s arrest

MANILA, Philippines - A Batanes court handing the trial of the Balintang shooting incident was asked to order the arrest of a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commander for allegedly failing to attend yesterday’s hearing.

Assistant state prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera said PCG commander Arnold Enrique dela Cruz and his lawyer Ernesto Cabrera did not show up in the hearing at the sala of Judge Ramon Barona of the Batanes regional trial court Branch 13.

In July, Dela Cruz, former skipper of Navy vessel MCS 3001, pleaded not guilty to the homicide charges filed against him and seven other PCG personnel for the death of Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shi Cheng.

Meanwhile, the court yesterday arraigned Seaman First Class1 (SN1) Edrando Aguila, the other accused in the case.

Aguila, who failed to attend an earlier arraignment schedule due to a death in the family, reportedly did not enter any plea, prompting the court to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf.

The other accused in the case were SN1s Mhelvin Bendo II, Andy Gibb Golfo, Sunny Masangkay and Henry Baco; SN2 Nickey Reynolds Aurelio and Petty Officer 2 Richard Corpuz.