Cops helpless without warrant vs slay suspects
By Kristine Felisse MangunayPhilippine Daily Inquirer
More than two weeks after the gruesome crime was discovered, two men allegedly behind the killing of a car parts plant manager in a Pasig City motel remain at large.
“We know where they are but we can’t move without a warrant,” Senior Supt. Mario Rariza, chief of police, told the Inquirer.
Police filed the murder charges in the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office against Elton Juan, 21, and one alias “Panget” as early as Nov. 20, one day after the body of Roberto Apuyan, of Friction Material Inc., a car spare parts manufacturing plant, was discovered.
The body bore 11 stab wounds inside a room at Pitang Suites on Evangelista Street.
A 15-year-old girl, now in police custody, who allegedly helped in killing the victim is facing similar charges.
Rariza said warrants are usually issued soon after the charges have been filed to enable police to immediately go after crime suspects.
“I don’t know why the warrant has not yet been issued,” Rariza said.
Senior Insp. Rodrigo de Dios, head of the city’s investigation unit, however, told the Inquirer that this was because the city prosecutor handling the case, Rodney Magbanua, had gone on leave.
He said Magbanua was supposed to file the case so a warrant could finally be issued.
At the same time, the police official said that it took some time before the victim’s autopsy report could be sent to the fiscal’s office. The report is a requirement for the application of a warrant of arrest.
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