More charges recommended vs alleged hitman in Isabela town mayor’s slay

Marsibal Abduhadi, the prime suspect in the killing of Mayor Erlinda Domingo of Maconacon, Isabela, is escorted by policemen on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. The Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office has recommended a string of charges against the alleged gunman. AP PHOTO/BULLIT MARQUEZ

MANILA, Philippines—The Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office has recommended a string of charges against the alleged gunman in the ambush of Maconacon, Isabela, mayor Erlinda Domingo after his arrest last Friday during a pot session at the Salaam Mosque compound.

Even though the murder and attempted murder charges against him have not been filed in court, Marsibal Indaman Abduhadi will still remain in detention due to a non-bailable charge of illegal possession of explosives against him.

Abduhadi, 39, underwent inquest proceedings on Sunday afternoon with his companion Jennifer de Guzman following their arrest Friday night during a pot session.

Aside from the illegal possession of explosives case, Assistant City Prosecutor Gibson Araula Jr. recommended the filing of illegal possession of firearms, drug possession, violation of the election gun ban, and illegal use of police insignia against Abduhadi.

Abduhadi was arrested in a special operation of the Quezon City Police District after he was tagged as the one who shot Domingo, 51, outside the Park Villa Apartelle on the night of Jan. 22.

Gunman

Domingo’s driver Bernard Plasos, 39, survived the ambush and pointed to Abduhadi alias “Bagwis” and “Angga” as the gunman.

Seized from Abduhadi during his arrest last Friday night was an Intratech submachine gun, ammunition, two fragmentation grenades, sachets of shabu and marijuana, and a jacket with police markings on it.

Although his prescribed bail totals P442,000 for four cases, Abduhadi still cannot walk free as the illegal possession of explosives for the two grenades is a non-bailable offense.

Meanwhile, De Guzman, his pot session partner, yielded shabu paraphernalia. Araula recommended the filing of illegal possession of drug paraphernalia against her with a prescribed bail of P60,000.

Lawful arrest

Araula, in his one-page resolution, said the couple were lawfully arrested and that there existed probable cause to hold them for trial.

Meanwhile, Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit head Chief Insp. Rodelio Marcelo said they would ask the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office to amend its earlier resolution, which initially recommended a preliminary investigation of the murder and attempted murder charge against Abduhadi, who was at large when three of his alleged cohorts underwent inquest proceedings.

Last week, Assistant City Prosecutor Rodrigo del Rosario recommended murder, attempted murder and other court cases against suspects Christian Pajenado, Michael Domingo and Abduhadi’s wife, Mary Grace, who were first to be arrested in connection with the ambush.

The case against Abduhadi was initially set for further investigation since he was still at large at the time of the inquest.

Marcelo said they would ask that Abduhadi be now considered under arrest for the graver offenses of murder and attempted murder, and for court cases to be filed against him as well.