Cops linked to murder of crime watch leader transferred to regular jails

CALAPAN CITY—The two policemen charged with the murder of anticrime crusader Zenaida Luz were transferred to regular jails in Oriental Mindoro province after spending two months in a hospital here.

Each guarded by five policemen, Senior Insp. Magdaleno Pimentel Jr. and Insp. Markson Almeranez were taken out of  Medical Mission Group Hospital on Wednesday night and taken to the police station in Gloria town.

 Commitment order

On Thursday, Judge Harry Jaminola of the Regional Trial Court Branch 42 in Pinamalayan town issued a commitment order that Pimentel be detained at the Pinamalayan jail and Almeranez to a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in Bansud town.

Pimentel and Almeranez were suspects in the murder of Luz, the regional head of the civic group Citizens Crime Watch (CCW), who was gunned down in Barangay Maligaya in Gloria on Oct. 9.

Responding Gloria policemen chased motorcycle-riding gunmen and engaged them in a shootout when they reached the next town of Pinamalayan. The gunmen turned out to be Pimentel, who was previously assigned at the police’s Public Safety Company, and Almeranez, the former police chief of Socorro town.

 CIDG custody

Insp. Ruel Lito Fronda, Gloria police chief, said the hospital, early last month, had issued a discharge clearance for the two policemen but their transfer was delayed because the court had not issued a commitment order until Thursday.

Pimentel and Almeranez earlier filed a motion in court that they be placed, instead, under the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s (CIDG) custody, citing congestion in regular jails and risks to their security.

“Wherever they (police) put them, we would not mind as long as they don’t go to the CIDG,” said Luz’s sister, Perlita Alvarez, on Thursday.

She said putting them in a CIDG jail “wouldn’t be like detention for them, as they could enjoy all the connection they may have [within the police force].”