A tanod outpost said to be illegally built at Zone 9, Unit 3 of the Carbon Public market in Barangay Ermita is dismantled by City Hall's demolition team yesterday.
The two barangay tanods of Ermita, Cebu City who have been accused of conniving with each other to kill a 38-year-old detainee last month pleaded not guilty to the charges during their arraignment yesterday.
Junnel Sanchez, 31, and Jerome Abanto, 37, denied the murder charges filed against them before the sala of Regional Trial Court Judge Gilbert Moises of Branch 18.
The two accused were assisted by lawyer Salvador Solima during their arraignment.
To recall, a certain Lyndon Abadinas, a resident of Barangay Pardo, Cebu City, was allegedly arrested and placed in a detention cell of Ermita on October 9. He was shot dead the following day.
The Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor earlier indicted Sanchez and Abanto before the court after finding probable cause on the charges hurled against them.
The two, in an inquest proceeding, chose not to file counter-affidavit to answer the allegations. Instead, they manifested to face the charges in court.
Investigation revealed that Abadinas was allegedly apprehended by Abanto on October 9 and detained in a cell in the barangay hall of Ermita. However, according to the investigating police, there was no record to show the reason for his arrest.
Witnesses Jerome Panebio and Jestoni Pineda, who were detained in the same detention cell as Abadinas, alleged that the latter was manhandled by Abanto.
Allegedly, Abadinas was handcuffed and his mouth was wrapped with a masking tape.
Panebio and Pineda further said that Abanto pulled out Abadinas from the detention cell on October 10 and turned him over to Sanchez.
At around 12:30 a.m. on October 10, Abadinas was allegedly killed at Sitio Ermita Proper.
Meanwhile, Sanchez, who was also charged of illegal possession of firearm, entered a not guilty plea yesterday.
Solima said the pretrial of the cases will be on November 29.