Grenade throwing suspects ordered secured

THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) officials were ordered by Mayor Celso Lobregat to ensure that all the inmates detained at the Zamboanga City Reformatory Center (ZCRC) are protected from threats.

Lobregat also said BJMP officials must ensure the safety and protection of the eight suspects, who were tagged in October 10 grenade incident in Gov. Camins Avenue.

Lobregat, who issued the order, met on Thursday with ZCRC officials Julius Aro and Pablo Villafuerte in the City Hall. He said he was concerned on the alleged attempts to have the grenade-throwing case dismissed and shelved.

“This (arrest of suspects) is an accomplishment of the city police and I don’t want this case to suffer any technicalities,” Lobregat said.

Lobregat’s order came following reports that a lawyer was able to get inside the ZCRC and got statement of retraction from one of the eight detained suspects.

“I ask Chief Insp. Arro to find out how a lawyer, who is not lawyering a certain suspect, was able to go inside the jail and get retraction from another suspect,” he said.

Lobregat named the eight grenade-throwing suspects as Garry Candido, Ariel Bucoy, Rodel Labrador, Romel Serrano, Aldasher Mualam, Muamar Mualam, Abdullah Julamin and Abdullah Jinul, all are detained at the ZCRC and awaiting trial.

The incident was perpetrated by two motorcycle-riding men who threw a grenade on a Navarra vehicle owned and driven by Hadja Farida Radja, a businesswoman, while the latter was along the intersection of Governor Camins Avenue and Canelar Road. Radja escaped unhurt but her vehicle was partially damaged.

Police authorities collared the two grenade throwers and follow-up operations led to the arrest of nine others and the seizure or recovery of firearms and motorcycles and other gadgets used paving the way for the solution of another crime perpetrated in the city earlier.

Of the 11 suspects arrested, eight are detained at the ZCRC, as the three others were released for lack of evidence.

Lobregat said the eight suspects will be put in different cells and to make sure they are free from any threats or intimidation if necessary.

Lobregat also directed Zamboanga City police officer-in-charge Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo to take all appropriate steps to ensure that the grenade throwing incident will be pursued and suspects prosecuted.

Lobregat, who chairs the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC), got wind of attempts to have the witnesses withdraw their testimony.

“As Chairman of the CPOC we are monitoring this case closely,” Lobregat said after meeting with De Ocampo and Senior Inspector Arlan Dalumpines, chief of the local police’ Criminal Investigation and Detective Management (CIDM) at City Hall.

“This is a case that will show to all that here in Zamboanga criminals are caught and prosecuted,” he said.