Wednesday, July 16, 2008 I’m not guilty, guard tells court
IN front of the family of slain lawyer Richard Sison, security guard Nemuel Sumabong told the court yesterday he was not guilty in the murder case filed against him.
Sison’s wife Dina and son Richard Dino were at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 10 to see Sumabong enter his not guilty plea.
Wendell Quiban, Sumabong’s lawyer, also withdrew his motion for reinvestigation.
In yesterday’s hearing, Presiding Judge Soliver Peras also ordered the Philippine National Police Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) to turn over the grey Toyota Hilux (GKP 376) to the court as well as the magazines and ammunition recovered from the crime scene.
Soco was given 24 hours to comply with the order.
Sison was shot dead last May 21 at the corner of V. Sotto St. and M.J. Cuenco Ave. in Barangay Tinago, Cebu City. He was driving his Toyota Hilux on the way to a nearby service center.
A witness said two men tailed Sison on a motorcycle before the ambush. When Sison stopped for a red traffic light, the motorcycle passenger went down and shot the lawyer.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 used the statements of three witnesses as bases for arresting Sumabong last June 10. NBI 7 operatives picked him up in Purok 8, Barangay Camputhaw.
Sumabong, however, said he has at least six witnesses who could attest to his innocence.
Sison, 52, was the lawyer of Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza. He was also active in the operations of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (Eruf).
A day after Sison was shot, he was scheduled to fly to Haarlemmermeer in the Netherlands with Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes to solicit donations for more equipment for Eruf. (JGA)
