Pacman's camp defends ambush suspects

Alabel, Sarangani (April 28, 2010) - The legal counsel of People’s Champ Movement (PCM), Manny Pacquiao’s political party, is defending the five suspects apprehended by police who were also tagged in the alleged ambush attempt against Glan incumbent Mayor Enrique “Yoyong” Yap during the inquest proceedings at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, Tuesday (April 27).

Atty. Orlando Salatandre Jr., PCM’s legal counsel, attended the inquest proceedings at the Fiscal’s Office to clear Jinkee Pacquiao’s name, who was dragged into the incident as the Toyota Hi-Ace van with plate number MDM-577 used by the suspects, was registered under her name.

The same van was seized by police after high powered firearms with magazines and 48 live ammunitions were found inside the vehicle.

But before the suspects, identified as Freddie Mendez, Jimmy Mier, Ronald Elorde, Renante Bangkas, and Alfredo Macabacyao, were presented before Prosecutor I Kayugenn Mato Kuda Jr., Salantandre was seen briefing the suspects and was even heard of telling them that they should not make any statement regarding the incident. He was also heard telling the suspects to deny that they know each other.

Macabacyao, driver of the van registered under the name of Jinkee Pacquiao, who was earlier interviewed while inside the detention cell, failed to say even a single word during the inquest proceedings. He also denied that he knew the four other suspects.

Macabacyao’s denial was contrary to the statement of Pastor Ombrino Ibon, resident of Barangay Pangyan in Glan who witnessed the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of firearms by police authorities.

Ibon earlier testified that the suspects know each other as he saw them together in the house of his brother, Romeo Ibon. “Gihimong silbing headquarters nila ang balay sa akong igsuon, mohapit na sila diha mokaon, makit-an nako na sila didto maghatud og mga poster. Usahay maghatud na sila og bugas, sud-an, kape, kunsumo nila tungod daghang mga tao ang ginapakaon didto, pulos mamosteray. Kaduha na mi nag-meet ana nila pero wala lang ko makabalo sa ilang mga pangalan, mao g’yud nang mga dagwaya, kana silang lima (They used the house of my brother as their headquarters. They go there to eat, and I saw them there when they delivered posters. Sometimes, they will bring rice, viand, and coffee for their consumption, there are a lot of people in the headquarters and all of them are assigned to install posters. I already met the five of them twice, the same faces I saw, but that time, I still don’t know their names yet),” Ibon said.

Aside from the firearms seized inside the two Toyota Hi-Ace vans, police also recovered several campaign materials such as PCM and Manny Pacquiao’s posters, combat boots, and an Army camouflage uniform.

The responding policeman said the .45 caliber was recovered inside the boots placed at the back portion of the van, while the M16 armalite rifle was recovered inside the seat of the other van. The defense of PCM’s legal counsel in favor of the five accused only means that PCM is doing it because the suspects were hired by them. This fact could not be argued because Macabacyao himself admitted that he was hired by the PCM camp to deliver and install Pacman’s posters in different barangays in Glan together with some people. ###