Witness in La Nueva heist surrenders to police official

DELAYS in trials are sometimes caused by a witness’s failure to appear in court.

A judge can cite the witness in contempt and issue a bench warrant against him, to force him to testify in the next hearing.

Such is the case of security guard Elmer Ian Ilagan, who surrendered to Chief Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes, chief of the Mandaue City Police Office’s Investigation and Detective Management Branch, in the Palace of Justice in Cebu City yesterday morning.

Ilagan was informed by his relatives about the warrant for his arrest last week.

Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 5 Judge Douglas Marigomen issued the bench warrant against Ilagan, Medard Rama and Nestor Impiales last Sept. 7.

The three men are witnesses in the heist that took place outside La Nueva Supermart on Aug. 13, 2007.

The group led by Casimero “Meloy” Garcia stole two bags containing P2,291,753 from pickup teller Grace Maglangit after shooting at security guards Procoro Esguerra and Rama. Esguerra died few days later.

La Nueva Supermart is located at the corner of Magallanes and Burgos Streets in Barangay San Roque, across the Cebu City Hall.

In the RTC Branch 5’s clerk of court office yesterday, Ilagan was able to talk with Marigomen.

The security guard said he was not able to receive notices of his scheduled court appearances. He also said he works for a new agency.

Marigomen lifted the bench warrant against Ilagan, but he told the latter to attend the hearing on Oct. 11.

If Ilagan fails again to appear, Marigomen warned he will cite the witness in contempt again.

The bench warrant against Rama and Impiales are still in effect.

Ilagan told reporters he will attend the trial next month and he is willing to testify.