Some parts of the getaway motorcycle reportedly used by suspects in the murder of PO2 Gerlito Estremos were recovered by Cebu City police at a shop in barangay Talamban, Cebu City last Thursday.
Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, head of the Cebu City police’s intelligence branch, said they are verifying ownership of the motorcycle at the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
Santander also denied that the police intentionally gunned down suspect James Flores during an encounter in barangay Tisa, last Wednesday evening, saying they shot him in self defense.
Santander said his men wouldn’t have shot down Flores if he never fired at them.
A .45 pistol was recovered from Flores’s possession. Santander said he expects the Flores family will file charges against them.
When told that Flores’ mother claimed that her son didn’t know how to drive a motorcycle, Santander said they obtained a temporary driver’s license from the suspect’s possession.
Gloria Flores admitted that her son and Ian Canseco, who was earlier arrested by the Cebu City police intelligence branch on drug charges, had been long time friends.
Flores and Canseco were identified earlier by witnesses as having mauled and shot Estremos in the face. Estremos was assigned at the Fuente police precinct.
Canseco wasn’t around when murder charges were filed against him at the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office yesterday morning.
City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon directed Asst. City Prosector Simaco Labata to proceed to the Cebu City Jail to conduct an inquest proceeding on Canseco despite the prohibition on conducting proceedings without the suspect’s presence.
Sellon said he chose to relax the rule because of the complex nature of Canseco’s case.
Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Samuel Malazarte of Branch 15 ordered the police to immediately transfer Canseco to the Cebu City Jail after the arrest warrant issued against him on drug charges was returned to the court.
The drug case earlier filed against Canseco before Malazarte is a bailable offense.
It would need a court order to bring Canseco from the Cebu City jail to the prosecutors’ office.
Canseco, a 34-year-old resident of barangay Sambag II, was arrested by police in barangay Kamagayan, Cebu City last Monday evening.
Flores’ parents said they will wait for their son’s burial before filing charges against the police who shot him down.
James Flores’ remains is now interred at the CitiCenter building located in Brgy. Kamagayan. With Correspondent Michelle Joy L. Padayhag