Tuesday, June 17, 2008 Sison ‘gunman’ wants to be released from jail
SECURITY guard Nemuel Sumabong, charged with murder before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office, wants to be released from detention.
He is under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7, the agency which arrested him in relation to the death of lawyer Richard Sison.
Sumabong’s lawyer Wendell Quiban filed a pleading before Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Noel Cellona yesterday.
Cellona, though, did not release a copy of the pleading but said the NBI was given time to comment on it.
Sumabong’s counter-affidavit is also due on June 18.
Reportedly, Quiban wants Sumabong released because his arrest did not cover a hot pursuit operation and there was no arrest warrant issued against him.
Sumabong was arrested last June 10, 20 days after killing. NBI 7 agents led by Rennan Oliva and Jesus Mabapat accosted Sumabong at Purok 8, Barangay Camputhaw with the help of a witness that identified the suspect from afar.
Red light
At least three witnesses tagged Sumabong, 30, as the one who shot Sison dead last May 21 when the lawyer stopped for a red light at the intersection of V. Sotto St. and M.J. Cuenco Ave., in front of the Commission on Audit (COA) regional office.
But Sumabong reportedly has his own witnesses that could attest that he was on duty for 12 straight hours starting 7 a.m. on May 21 at an establishment along
Magallanes St.
Backup
Sumabong has also been linked to the killing of businessman Renerio Arrogante III last March in Daanbantayan, where he allegedly acted as the gunman’s backup. He also denied involvement in Arrogante’s killing.
He is a cousin of Joel Sumabong, a suspected robbery gang leader accused of the P9.4 million robbery of the Land Bank of the Philippines branch in Bogo in August 2005.
Sison is the lawyer and a good friend of Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza. He was also the legal officer of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (Eruf). (JGA)
