Sulu mayor faces homicide, obstruction of justice raps over resident’s death

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing of homicide and obstruction of justice charges against the municipal mayor of Pang Lima Estino, Sulu and his close-in security escort for the death of a resident in the area in 2010.

In a six-page Review Resolution, Morales said there was enough evidence to prosecute Mayor Hji Munib Sahibil Estino and Police Officer1 Hector Sabdani Abubakar for Homicide and obstruction of justice.

The case stemmed from the complaint of Aljimar Bandang whose father, Mannan Badang was killed on Feb. 22, 2010 while inside temporary municipal hall in Barangay Poblacion (Punay) during a meeting of Sangguniang Bayan members presided by Estino.

Aljimar and his witness alleged that they saw Estino took his gun which was placed on the top of the table and shot the victim once below his neck that caused his death.

Estino argued that it was his aide who shot the victim who drew his bolo and attempted to hack him.

“[Complainant] and his witness Hadjilal Sabaddin are categorical in their statements that they saw Estino shoot Badang inside the temporary municipal hall while [the mayor] was presiding over the settlement of a dispute concerning the family of [the victim],” the Ombudsman said in the resolution.

Morales said the narration given by complainant and his witness was more credible than the allegation of Estino.

“The defense interposed by Estino cannot overcome the positive identification made by the complainant and his witness that it was Estino himself who shot and killed the victim. There was no ill motive shown to have motivated the complainant and his witness to point to Estino as the perpetrator of the crime,” the ruling stated.

“It would appear that the victim was just being argumentative during the meeting drawing Estino to get hold of his gun placed on the top of the table and shoot the victim. Clearly, Estino intended to kill the victim as shown by the location of the wound inflicted by the victim.”