ILOILO CITY—The Iloilo Regional Trial Court has granted bail to a policeman who is allegedly the gunman in a failed assassination of another policeman linked to illegal drugs.
The lawyer of PO2 Melvin Mocorro posted a P140,000 bail bond on his behalf, but he is still confined at a private hospital under heavy guard while recuperating from gunshot wounds, according to Senior Supt. Henry Biñas, Iloilo City police director.
READ: ARMM cop charged in plot to kill Iloilo cop linked to drugs
Biñas said they will provide security to Mocorro while he is being treated at the hospital, but he can leave the hospital when he is able based on the court order for his release issued on Wednesday.
He said they have no legal grounds to further detain Mocorro and any administrative proceedings will be conducted by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police office where the policeman is assigned.
Last week, police arrested Mocorro after he was identified as the gunman in the attack on PO1 Dorben Acap. Mocorro and two unidentified suspects are facing a frustrated murder complaint in relation to the shooting.
Acap also remains confined at another hospital for a bullet wound fired at him shoulder by three gunmen aboard two motorcycles while he was driving his car along the national highway in Barangay Dulonan in Arevalo District here on June 26.
Acap fired at his assailants and wounded one, whom he later identified as Mocorro.
Investigators are still determining the motives behind the attack, which came days after unidentified armed men shot dead Barangay Captain Remia Prevendido-Gregori at a family-owned beach resort in San Joaquin town in Iloilo.
Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police director, said they are still waiting for Mocorro to issue a statement in the presence of his lawyer.
Bulalacao also gave assurances that there will be a thorough and transparent investigation.
“The PNP is not involved in the (summary killing) of those involved in illegal drugs. The police follow a policy to observe due process and respect human rights,” he said, adding that they still need to identify the two other companions of Mocorro in the attack on Acap.
“If this will be later to be proven to be a police operation against Acap, they will answer for this,” Bulalacao said. /ee