THE alleged gunman in the killing of state university president Dr. Ricardo Rotoras was reportedly arrested last month, January 12, in Makati City for another murder case.
The hitman was identified as 33-year-old Johnreal Abel Gumanay, who was known also with his many aliases as "JanJan," "JunJun," "Alejandro Ceniza," and "Jun Putot."
A native of Zamboanga del Sur, Gumanay had been residing in Parañaque City prior to his arrest.
Police records show that Gumanay is a close aide and an alleged hitman of Ozamis City Councilor Ricardo 'Ardot' Parojinog.
Gumanay was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 15 in Ozamiz City, for killing former Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Rolando Romero in 2016.
Data from the City Prosecutor's Office have it that Rotoras' wife, Zarah Lynn Rotoras filed the murder charges against suspect Gumanay last February 2, 2018.
A reliable source told SunStar Cagayan de Oro that during the tactical interrogation, Gumanay admitted to the police that he killed a person that `he did not know’ in Cagayan de Oro last December.
Gumanay was then brought to the city to face the witness sometime in the third week of January. The source said Gumanay was positively identified by the witness.
Authorities brought Gumanay back to Ozamiz City Police Station, while the fiscal's office here will raffle the case.
Aside from killing the former vice mayor of Ozamis City in 2016, Gumanay is also suspect on the murder of a certain Kapitan Salvador in Bongbong, Ozamiz City, and the murder of Lucky Forsuelo, a drug pusher at Bagakay, Ozamiz City, as per instruction of the Parojinogs, the report said.
Gumanay, who owns several high-powered and short firearms, is also involved in a series of robbery of pawnshops in Cagayan de Oro,Pagadian, and Butuan City. He also operates in Cebu and Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, the three attending physicians of architect Rey Galua, a person of interest in the murder of state university president Dr. Ricardo Rotoras, told the court yesterday that their patient no longer need hospital confinement as his vital signs are already stable.
In the hearing yesterday at Regional Trial Court Branch 24, the doctors however affirmed Galua’s complains of chest pain and palpitation.
Dr. Franz Go, a cardiologist at Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC), said he performed different tests to patient Galua, among others, coronary angiography, a test done to find out if one’s coronary arteries are blocked or narrowed, where and by how much.
Go said Galua has a case of atrial fibrillation, a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.
A healthy person's Internal Normalized Ratio (INR) level or range of 1 is considered normal, but Galua's INR is at 2 to 3, meaning, the risk of bleeding and bleeding-related events increases, making him at risk to stroke.
Go said Galua's transfer to Lumbia City Jail will not endanger his life because of his medical condition, but constant and regular monitoring should be done on the patient.
Dr. Roy Sasil, also an NMMC-based cardiologist, said Galua will continue to complain chest pains and irregular heart beat given his condition.
"His transfer will not cause his life but there may be consequences, so he needs constant monitoring because stroke can recur, especially he had already episodes of stroke in 2007 and 2011," Sasil said
Dr. Debra Urbina, cardiologist and electrophysiologist, meanwhile told the court that Galua could be brought back to jail, but suggested that a cardiologist should visit him once or twice a week, and that laboratory tests should be done at least every two weeks.
It can be recalled that the court sent subpoenas to Galua's doctors to determine whether or not he will be allowed to stay further in the hospital.
Lawyer Jonathan Pacuribot of the City Prosecutor's Office, said the witnesses' testimonies are favorable to the prosecution.
"The doctors’ testimonies tell us that there is no need for hospital confinement," he said.
The prosecution and the defense counsels will submit their legal memorandum, but with or without their memorandum, Judge Henry Damasing will issue a ruling 10 days from the hearing on Wednesday.