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Friday, December 16, 2005
Convicted ex-cop goes home
Forrmer policeman Guillermo Wapille, whom a Cebu court found guilty of shooting to death Pagadian City mediaman Edgar Damalerio, is back in Pagadian City.
A staff member from the records department of the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC) told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday that Wapille was brought to Pagadian City last Wednesday night.
He is set to attend a hearing at 8:30 a.m. today for a car theft charge he is facing.
BBRC jail guards escorted Wapille on board a passenger vessel last Wednesday night.
As this developed, Wapille also formally asked the court to reconsider its decision finding him guilty for the murder of Damalerio in a May 2002 ambush.
In his motion for reconsideration, he said that he has faced a “distinct disadvantage” from the beginning of the trial.
He argued that the court “totally disregarded and ignored” his formal offer of exhibits and memorandum.
The memorandum noted that Judge Ramon Codilla’s decision stated that “new” information was filed against Wapille in Cebu due to a technical defect.
However, according to Wapille, the information filed before RTC Branch 19 was not new, but an amended one with the same details under the same docket number.
“Such amendment does not cure the jurisdictional defect in the information and the instant case should have been dismissed outright,” the motion read.
Wapille also said that while the “inconsistent” testimony of eyewitness Edgar Ongue was given credence by the court, the testimony of the defense’s eyewitness, Bernardo Regis, was not given weight.
The defense presented Regis, who said that it was not Wapille whom he saw shoot to death Damalerio last May 13, 2002 as the broadcaster-journalist was driving his car.
According to the motion, Regis’ testimony was disregarded by the court.
The defense also pointed out that the prosecution never presented a motive on the part of Wapille to kill the mediaman.
“The Honorable court has embarked on sheer guesswork, conjectures and speculations in deciding the fate of the accused,” read Wapille’s motion, expressing dismay over the decision. (JST/JGA)
(December 16, 2005 issue)
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