MANILA, Philippines—Commercial model and chef Martin Jickain, the ex-husband of actress Aiko Melendez, is facing charges for grave threats and attempted homicide for allegedly pointing a gun at two Pasay City policemen who tried to pacify his drunken friend early Friday morning.
An initial police investigation showed that the 31-year-old Jickain was apprehended together with companion Rommel David Almoro in front of Bakahan at Manukan restaurant on the Roxas Boulevard service road by members of the Station Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Group (SAID-SOG) of the Pasay City police around 12:30 a.m.
JICKAIN. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The police team was then on patrol in the area when they noticed Almoro raising his middle finger and shouting at a cab driver who was blocking his car at the restaurant’s parking area.
The policemen initially let the incident pass as they thought that it was only a minor misunderstanding between the two drivers, according to the city police chief, Senior Supt. Melchor Reyes.
The apparently drunk Almoro, however, kept taunting the other driver and later directed his anger at the police officers, Reyes said.
PO3 Vicente Perez, one of the team members, got off their vehicle together with a fellow officer to pacify Almoro, but they were met by Jickain who walked towards them from Almoro’s car and pointed his handgun at the officers.
Perez and his buddy then called for backup, prompting Jickain to point his gun down and run back to Almoro’s car. He and his friend, however, were prevented from fleeing.
Seized from Jickain was a .380-caliber Ruger pistol and a loaded magazine. The police said he was able to present a license to carry the gun.
Almoro and Jickain remained in detention at the Pasay City police headquarters on Harrison Street at press time. Almoro faces charges for direct assault and resisting arrest, while Jickain was booked for grave threats and attempted homicide.
Investigators noted that a medical examination showed that both men were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
Jickain made headlines when he married Melendez in 2006, but the couple split a year later and the marriage was annulled in 2010. They have a daughter who is in the custody of Melendez, who is also a former Quezon City councilor.