Cabal, 6 others face arrest

CEBU, Philippines — Even after the dismissal of the arbitrary detention complaint filed against Regional Intelligence Division (RID)-7 chief Jonathan Cabal and six Bien Unido policemen was dismissed, a warrant of arrest was still issued against them.

Criminal Investigation and Detention Group (CIDG)-7 served on Wednesday the warrant issued by Municipal Circuit Trial Court Judge Joy Angelica Santos-Doctor against the police officers.

Lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna, legal counsel of the complainants said the six policemen — SPO1 Alexander Garcia, PO3 Angelo Avenido, Ally Bornillo, and Lloyd Garcia, and PO1 Frederick Enriquez and Emmanuel Pagalan, posted bail of P6,000 each.

The warrant against Cabal is yet to be implemented as he is out of the country.

The case stemmed from the complaints filed against Cabal and the six policemen by Lobo Boniel and Brian Sayson, alleged cohorts of Bohol Provincial Board Member Niño Rey Boniel, the main suspect in the killing of his wife, Gisela.

Lobo, Sayson, and Wison Hoylar alleged that on August 16, 2017, the elements of Bien Unido Police Station appeared at their residence to arrest them upon the instruction of Cabal. Complainants claimed their names were not included in the warrant of arrest, which the police showed.

Associate provincial prosecutor Godwin Gamas of Bohol Provincial Prosecutor's Office found probable cause for the filing of an arbitrary detention case against the policemen before the court.

But the policemen filed a motion for reconsideration and they also asked for the inhibition of the entire Bohol Provincial Prosecutor's Office from the case.

Their motion for inhibition was granted and Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane designated Prosecutor II Ryan Sojor of Carcar City Prosecutor's Office to resolve the motion for reconsideration of the police officers.

Sojor recently ruled that the detention of Sayson and Lobo was with legal ground based on their interpretation of the warrant of arrest and the circumstances surrounding the case are insufficient to establish the existence of probable cause.

But Dela Cerna said the police officers were not off the hook even with Sojor’s ruling because the case was already filed in court after Gamas found probable cause to file an arbitrary detention case against them in court. — MBG (FREEMAN)