Courtroom shooter finished off by police?

MANILA, Philippines - The Canadian who shot dead two people in a courtroom in Cebu City last Tuesday was still alive though with a self-inflicted gunshot wound when policemen arrived and apparently finished him off, an eyewitness said yesterday.

This was contrary to claims by investigators that responding policemen shot John Holdridge Pope in the wrist and thighs to disable him before he killed himself.

An official privy to the investigation told The STAR that based on the witness’ account, Pope was still alive but had shot himself when policemen shot him.

“When he dropped, that’s the time the crowd came in,” the source said. The official declined to divulge more details pending further investigation.

The eyewitness is a staff of Cebu Municipal Trial Court in Cities.

Cebu City police officer-in-charge Mariano Natuel saw lapses in the security system of the Marcelo Fernan Palace of Justice that allowed Pope to get inside the court with two firearms. The court needs to improve its security system and even foreigners must be frisked, he added.

Court Administrator Jose Maidas Marquez told reporters that he has directed executive judges nationwide to implement a two-level security checking system in courts.

Judges must assign court staff to inspect people attending court hearings, he added.

Four policemen were deployed yesterday to help guards secure the court and help frisk those entering and leaving the building.

Police Officer1 Manuelito Astilla said four policemen will be on guard duty at the Marcelo Fernan Palace of Justice from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They will report directly to Executive Judge Silvestre Maamo of the Regional Trial Court, he added.

Security guards at the Palace of Justice started using a hand held metal detector yesterday.

Police are awaiting word from the family of Pope whether they would allow his remains to be subjected to an autopsy.

Police said they have informed the Canadian Consulate and of the incident.

An autopsy would be vital in determining whether Pope had committed suicide, Natuel added.

Natuel said Police Officer 1 Oriel Hagupit and Police Officer 2 Celso Rivera Jr. will not be held criminally liable for shooting Pope but will even be commended for their action.

Court hearings and transactions were back to normal at the Marcelo Fernan Palace of Justice except at the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 6 where a Mass was held. Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalne said Prosecutor Ma. Theresa Casiño remains in critical condition.

She was moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Chong Hua Hospital yesterday, he added. Doctors have yet to extract a bullet from Casiño’s nape, Gubalne said.

Permit to carry

Gubalane, meanwhile, along with Cebu City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon and nine other prosecutors, has filed an application with the Commission on Election for permit to carry firearms.

The Philippine National Police is set to review its security coordination with courts to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again. The Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cervo Jr. said an agreement should be made among the police, local governments and the court administrators to enhance the security in courtrooms.

At the Senate, Sen. Francis Escudero voice alarm over the Cebu tragedy.

“What irony it is that it happened inside a place of refuge for justice, a place where legal rights are emphasized,” he said,

In a statement, the chairman of Senate committee on justice and human rights, said he is concerned over security in courts nationwide.

“Members of the judiciary have to look over their backs constantly due to threats to their lives,” he said.

“They should not be subjected anymore to this same kind of unease once they step into our judicial courts. There should not be any threats anymore,” he said.

Escudero said security must be tightened in courts, preferably with the use of physical and electronic deterrents and other security equipment.

“Our courts should be insulated from threats, harms for everyone,” he said.

“We must ensure that all courts are orderly and safe where the public can take refuge, and ascertain that within its halls their rights are protected and emphasized.”

– Edu Punay, Niña Sumacot, Mylen Manto, Ria Mae Booc/Freeman News Service, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Danny Dangcalan