Tuesday, August 05, 2008 Lawyer of 2 chop-chop suspects asks judge to allow psycho tests
THEY were not themselves when they allegedly killed and chopped up the bodies of two women.
This is the contention of lawyer Salvador Solima when he filed an urgent motion to allow accused Richard Gudelosao and Joseph Roy Cellar to undergo psychiatric examination.
The double murder case against Cellar, Gudelosao and his live-in partner Jean Antonette Medalle was raffled off to the Regional Trial Court Branch 23, presided by Judge Generosa Labra.
“The manner it was committed is revolting,” the motion read.
“Apparently the accused were under the influence of drugs whose mental faculties have been distorted by the influence of drugs,” it also read.
Earlier, Gudelosao admitted to smoking marijuana cigarettes a day before his future sister-in-law Eva Mae Peligro and her helper Gwendolyn Balaste were killed. Peligro is the fiancée of Gudelosao’s US-based brother Felix.
Peligro and Balasta were strangled, beaten up and chopped up before their body parts were dumped in different areas of the Manipis Road up to Toledo City and the City of Naga.
“It is then appropriate before arraignment (that) their frame of mind should be examined so that they will be able to realize the consequence of their plea,” the motion also read.
“It is prayed that a psychiatric examination be conducted to the accused, likewise, an examination be made to determine whether the accused are under the influence of drugs,” it added.
While the court is yet to rule on the motion filed by Solima, the policemen that helped solve the case were honored yesterday.
But marching around the regional headquarters’ parade grounds with top officials congratulating them was a first for some members of the Minglanilla Police Station.
For the six officers who managed to solve the killing of Peligro and Balasta, the medals awarded to them lifted their morale.
A Medalya ng Kasanayan was pinned on Minglanilla Police Chief Romeo Santander, SPO1 Proculo Ando Jr., PO3 Allen Garciano, PO3 Roland Camello, PO2 Avelino Selloria and PO1 Rodulfo Quilala Jr.
For Quilala, it was the first time he received such a high recognition in his 12 years as a policeman.
Garciano shared the same feeling.
“Ma-encourage ta nga mutrabaho gyud ta (This encourages us to perform better),” Garciano told reporters.
Santander said the case taught them to work hard and not to rely on national support units or other special units to do the work.
He also said that entertaining complainants properly paid off.
“Dili ta mu-relax kay abi police station ra ta (We should not relax just because our office is just a police station). We did not expect this (award). This case taught us a lot of things,” he told reporters.
The awarding of the medals was announced by PRO 7 Director Ronald Roderos last week.
In a text message to Sun.Star Cebu yesterday, Roderos said he has also required the chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 7 and the chief of the Liloan Police Station to submit after-operation and investigation reports for the speedy solution of the gas station robbery, which is another case the police solved recently.
The report will serve as basis for the PRO 7 Awards Board, headed by Senior Supt. Drusillo Bolodo, for the awarding of medals.
Also awarded yesterday were individuals and institutions that supported the Police Community Relations (PCR).
Awarded were the PCR sections of the PRO 7, Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office, Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, Talisay City Police Station and Baclayon Police Station.
The Sogod Police Station was awarded the citizen-friendly station of the year and Barangay Kinasang-an, Cebu City was named most citizen-friendly barangay.
Barangay Sta. Rosa, Danao City was awarded the most police-friendly village; Barangay Jugan, Consolacion as the most disciplined and Barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City as the most supportive. (JGA/MEA)
