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Friday, April 29, 2005
Broadcasters' group keeps hands off case
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
A LAWYER for embattled Bombo Radyo commentator Alexander "Lex" Adonis will submit a not-guilty plea should the City Prosecutor's Office decide to formally file charges in court, the radioman's legal counsel disclosed Thursday.
The same lawyer also dispelled talks of any special treatment and any under-the-table negotiations being initiated in favor of his client.
Also, the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkasters ng Pilipinas-Cagayan de Oro (KBP-CDO) chapter admits being helpless over Adonis' case.
Several city residents are also voicing their confusion over Mayor Vicente Emano's statement that he and Adonis are "not close" when the radioman has somehow given the mayor and his PaDayon Pilipino group a lot of good propaganda during the election period.
In an interview with Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Thursday, lawyer Micheal Florentino Dumlao Jr. said the charges filed against his client are now with the City Prosecutor's Office.
"It is now submitted for resolution as of yesterday," he said Thursday night.
The city prosecutor has recently appointed a panel composed of assistant city prosecutors Lorimer Dilema Sr., Romualdo Banan and Marvilla to deliberate on Adonis's case.
It was decided by the prosecutors that charges of illegal possession of firearms slapped against the radioman be integrated with the recently filed second case accusing Adonis of public alarm and scandal.
Some lawyers who requested anonymity said most cases that are deliberated by a panel are usually decided over in a shorter period than the 15-day allowed period for resolution of cases that are still in the prosecutor's office.
They said this particularly if the suspect has already signed a waiver and is staying in jail pending a decision on whether the case be dismissed or not and, if the case be filed in court, the judge's decision on the suspect's bailbond and release order.
But should the City Prosecutor's Office decide to file information in court against Adonis, Dumlao said they would be submitting a plea of not guilty and would fight for the radioman's innocence to the end.
"I am standing as his lawyer not for any other reasons except that he (Adonis) is a close friend," he said.
He added that they have already presented the 4th Military Intelligence Brigade (MIB) mission order and memorandum receipt as part of their evidence and would also be producing witnesses to win the case for Adonis.
Dumlao debunked reports that his client has been given special treatment and that there are under-the-table negotiations for his early release to the tune of P60,000.
"Nagpa-priso naman gani ang tao (Adonis have even allowed himself to be imprisoned)," he said.
KBP-CDO chairman Junas Bustamante said they couldn't do or even comment on the Adonis case.
"No say ko ana kay dili man membro ang Bombo Radyo sa atong KBP (I cannot say anything about the Adonis case as dxIF Bombo Radyo is not a member of our KBP)," he said.
"It is the obligation of the Bombo Radyo station manager Jub Albino to take disciplinary action on this matter," he also said.
Last Sunday evening, Barangay 27 tanods heard a gun shot at one of the KTV-bars in their area. They immediately alerted their councilor Reynaldo Polosan who immediately called the Cogon Police Precint for some assistance.
Upon arriving at the scene, responding policemen Police Officer 3 Ramil Acero, Police Officer 3 Alfredo Suace and Police Officer 3 Catalino Poyatos Jr arrested Adonis and recovered from him a .38 caliber pistol. The gun was still loaded wth five live ammunitions when police seized it from the broadcaster. An empty shell was also recovered from the scene of the incident.
Cogon police precinct investigator Senior Police Officer 3 Heracleo Babanto said Adonis was drunk when he fired his unlicensed gun at 9:30 p.m in a KTV bar along A. Luna Extension.
The radio commentator only showed police officers a memorandum receipt and mission order from the 4th MIB, based at the 4th Infantry Division in Camp Evangelista, Patag this city.
Babanto said they did not honor the papers presented by Adonis as the law states that only permit to carry and license to possess firearms documents are admissible. (With reports from Pilgrim intern Rosalyn C. Baal)
(April 29, 2005 issue)
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