Homicide raps readied vs Sulu mayor

CHARGES of homicide and obstruction of justice will be filed before the Sandiganbayan against a town mayor in Sulu and his security escort for the death of a resident nearly three years ago.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said Mayor Hji Munib Sahibil Estino killed Mannan Badang during a Municipal Council meeting over the dispute involving the family’s victim on February 22, 2010.

Complainant Aljimar Badang (victim’s son) and respondents have different versions as to who shot and killed Badang, according to the six-page review resolution released by Morales’ office.

Aljimar and his witness said they saw Estino took his gun, which was placed on the top of the table, and shot Badang once below his neck, leading to his immediate death.

Estino then pointed to PO1 Hector Sabdani Abubakar, his aide, as the one who shot the victim.

Morales gave weight to the complainant’s narration, saying Estino’s defense cannot debunk the positive identification made by Aljimar and his witness that it was Estino who shot and killed Badang.

She added that Aljimar has no “ill motive” to point Estino as the crime suspect.

“It would appear that the victim was just being argumentative during the meeting drawing Estino to get hold of his gun placed on the top of the table and shoot the victim. Clearly, Estino intended to kill the victim as shown by the location of the wound inflicted by the victim,” the resolution stated.

The Ombudsman further held that “it appears that Abubakar admitted having shot the victim in order to mislead and cover up for the mayor whom he was a close-in security escort."

Homicide carries a jail term of around 12 to 20 years, while obstruction of justice has four years and two months. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)