4 carnap syndicate members set to appear in court

THE four self-confessed members of the "Baktin" carnap syndicate are set to face court proceedings on carnapping charges filed against them.

Gerry Paulino, 30, resident of Buhangin in Davao City; Eddie Lopez, 19, of Marilog District in Davao City; Diego Macatimbang, 19, of Davao Oriental; and Hermie Tahom, 36, of Surigao del Sur, were ordered to appear again before the court on May 10, 2013, around 8:30 a.m. for their pre-trial.

Judge Evalyn Arellano-Morales, of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 17, rescheduled their pre-trial on May 10 from February 20 to give way to lawyer Aimee Torrefranca, legal counsel of the complainant-Sumifro, who is giving birth this month.

The accused are expected to appear anew before the court with their legal counsels -- Lawyer Luwill Tiu Al-ag for Paulino, and Lawyer Heracleo Malaki III.

The two counsels for the accused assured that their clients will be available during the court proceedings especially that they pleaded not guilty during their arraignment on November 21, 2012 on the carnapping charges earlier filed against them.

Paulino is the only one among the four accused who did not post bail as he opted to remain under the custody of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) for security reasons while the others were released from jail last November 7, after they posted P180,000 bail.

Paulino opted to remain under the custody of DCPO, instead of being detained at the Davao City Jail.

Meanwhile, the Davao City Prosecution Office, chief Lawyer Raul Bendigo earlier said that Paulino cannot be placed under the witness protection program because they’re still waiting for the court’s endorsement.