30 cleared in Manila’s Harbour Centre Port ‘shootout’

MANILA, Philippines – A public prosecutor has cleared 30 persons in the alleged shootout at the Harbour Centre Port Terminal in Manila in 2014.

In a 3-page resolution forwarded to Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, Assistant City Prosecutor Evangelene Narvaez Isidro dismissed the criminal complaint filed against 30 persons.

The cleared individuals include the following: Jomar de Guzman, Ariel Usman Dipatuan, Abdul Basser, Mohammad Ali Lanson, Jun Animbang, Cosme Sangkupan, Tisoy Samadalan, Akmad Solaiman, Rino Vergara, Leonardo Delfin, Abdul Ryan Abduullah, Edmund Abdula, Kawinan Kamad, Sakar Akmad, Rene Boy Caito, Mudz JJamilon, Amer Adzed, Mino Casan, Teng Sanan, Teng Dro, Alex Cuaresma, Reynold GGonzaga, Orlando Payoyo, June Villacruses, Rex Ortiz, Baltazar Castillo, Rene Villammor, Nasser Sugadol, James Jamarolen, and Raffy Dalandan.

“After a careful review of the allegations of the complainant, the undersigned finds no probable cause to indict the respondents of any of the offense referred for further investigation against them. There is no specific or particular act in the affidavit of the complainants to conclude that these respondents have violated the laws,” Isidro said in her resolution.

Miguel Mabalay, a security officer of HCPT Incorporated, filed the complaint against them, according to records from the Department of Justice.

Mabalay, in the complaint he filed in December 2014, said the respondents trespassed into Harbour Center and threatened people there.

On the other hand, the accused claimed they knew nothing about a plan to “attack” HCPTI. Instead they said they were “promised jobs” as janitors, security guards, and movie stuntmen.

Isidro said Mabalay’s evidence is “vague and bereft of the fact.” 

She said the evidence was not enough to support the filing of charges that include trespassing, grave coercion, grave threats, robbery, and frustrated murder. – Rappler.com