Lobregat urges Ko to pursue case vs attackers

24/09/2009 06:19

Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday urged the son of former Vice Mayor Robert “Bong” Ko to pursue the filing of case against the suspects in a shooting incident involving the young Ko along Gov. Camins Avenue last August 30.

A similar call was issued by City Police OIC Director Col. Amador Corpus, who offered to provide security to the young Ko and his family amidst reports of threats from some quarters.

Mayor Lobregat yesterday afternoon invited Roberto Ko Jr. to his office to discuss things concerning the progress of the case. Col. Corpus attended the meeting as well as young Ko’s mother Janet.

“Let justice prevail. If victims are scared or threatened to file cases against suspects then justice will never prevail but lawlessness,” the mayor told the young Ko.

It is recalled that a few hours after the shooting incident, police authorities collared the suspects identified as Nadzmir Sappad, Mumar Abdurani, Jabar Bawa, Jimhar Jimlani and PO1 Faizal Sali who is assigned with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) region.

No less than Mayor Lobregat lauded the police authorities for immediately arresting the suspects saying that it is an achievement that deserves recognition. He lamented that some quarters merely take cognizance of the crime incidents that occur but are blind on the achievements of the police.

The mayor himself last September 9 inspected the detention cell of the City Police Office to make sure that the 5 suspects were incarcerated.

The suspects remain detained at the City Police Office and have applied for extended waiver.

Meanwhile, the City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday morning formally filed in Court appropriate cases against the five suspects, per information relayed to Mayor Lobregat.

Police investigation show that the August 30 incident at the Gov. Camins Avenue stemmed from an altercation between Ko and the suspects. Ko during the incident sustained gunshot wounds in some parts of his body.

As this developed, the younger Ko, in his meeting with the mayor at City Hall intimated that personally, he is willing to pursue the case but will have to confer with his father for final decision. (Sheila Covarrubias)