Accused cop attacked by fellow inmates

ONE of the Cagayan de Oro City policemen accused in the 2016 Enrique Fernandez III kidnapping case survived the assassination attempt inside the Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail (MOPJ), over the weekend.

Police Officer 3 (PO3) Alejandro Ubanan was attacked by three fellow inmates using an improvised knife while all prisoners gathered at the MOPJ ground for the head count around 3 p.m., Sunday, May 20.

Ubanan sustained two stabbed wounds on his chest and was rushed to Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC). His operation was successful and was reportedly in stable condition.

“Kalit lang siya gidasmagan sa tulo ka piniriso ug gidunggab kaduha unya naa puy nanumbag sa iya (It was sudden, three inmates attacked him and stabbed him and there was someone who punched him),” MOPJ warden Dominador Tagarda said.

Tagarda said two of the suspects identified by the witnesses are facing murder charges while the other one was accused of rape. The three were now detained at the isolation cell.

The jail warden said the suspects may have kept grudges against Ubanan who was among the inmates who enforces the ‘no smoking’ policy inside the detention facility.

“Isa na si Ubanan sa ga-advocate nga mawagtang ang panigarilyo ug palusot sa sigarilyo. Nabadlongan siguro to niyang mga suspek or ang uban supak ba kaha sa iya pero padayon pa atong investigation (Ubanan is one of the people that advocated the no smoking policy. The suspects are possibly some who Ubanan admonished but the investigation is still ongoing),” Tagarda said.

Tagarda said the family has also expressed their plans to press frustrated murder charges against the suspects.

Tagarda added they will impose tight security for Ubanan who is recovering at the hospital and even until he comes back to the detention center.

“Higpit atong seguridad sa iya sa hospital apil pud diri pagbalik niya sa bilangguan aron dili na mausab ang hitabo (The security in the hospital will be strict as well as the security in his cell so that the incident will not happen again),” Tagarda said, adding that the incident was an isolated case.

The MOPJ management temporarily suspends the inmates’ privileges such as “dalaw” at an indefinite period.

Ubanan along with Senior Inspector Ereneo Ramirez, Senior Police Officer 2 Jojo Lim, Senior Police Officer 1 Alaindelon Tacubao and Police Officer 2 Sangkula Hussein are facing kidnapping and carnapping charges.

Ubanan was transferred from Cagayan de Oro City Jail in Lumbia to MOPJ following a court order December, last year.

“Ang instruction ni Governor Bambi Emano sa amo nga imbestigahon ug ipalutaw ang hustisya (Governor Bambi Emano instructed us to investigate and bring justice),” Tagarda said.