Arraignment of murder suspect delayed anew

THE arraignment of a man who allegedly killed Vice Mayor Alexander Tomawis of Barira, Maguindanao in November 2010 was postponed for the third time.

The accused, Ustadz Ali Limbona, once again asked the court Friday to reset his arraignment since his counsel was not yet around.

Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 16 Judge Emmanuel Carpio moved his arraignment to July 20.

During his first scheduled arraignment on June 1, Limbona told the court his private prosecutor is a certain lawyer Zaida Demapura.

The court granted his request and rescheduled his arraignment on June 8.

Limbona once again told the court that his lawyer was not around so it was rescheduled again on June 29.

During Friday’s hearing, records showed that the counsel he was referring to did not again appear before the court prompting the court to move it to July 20.

Limbona is one of the two accused in the killing of Tomawis inside his house in Buhangin, Davao City on November 18, 2010.

The other respondent, Datu Ting Diocolano, remains at large.

In a resolution dated May 30, 2011, prosecutor Ria Nina L. Sususco and assistant state prosecutor Grace V. Ruiz found probable cause to charge Limbona and Diocolano based on the complaint filed by Raga Tomawis-Beda and Mayor Bai Fatima Ruth Tomawis, sister and wife of the victim, respectively.

Court records showed that the gunmen went to the house of Tomawis pretending to get the victim's signature for some important documents.

While the victim was approaching them, one of the suspects pulled a gun and shot Tomawis in the head. Tomawis was declared dead at the Davao Doctor's Hospital.

Limbona is presently detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Davao. (ANC)