Driver of getaway car allowed to post bail

THE driver of getaway vehicle used by one of the alleged hitmen in Talisay City is about to step out of jail.

Lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo said they are processing the release of Adhmann Canangca-an, who surrendered to the police last Oct. 5 after he was implicated in a shootout with police operatives.

The Talisay City Prosecutors’ Office recommended a P120,000 bail for Canangca-an’s temporary liberty pending resolution of the charges filed against him.

Police on Friday filed charges of attempted murder against Canangca-an before the Talisay City Prosecutors’ Office.

Assistant Prosecutor Hyacinth Jadraque, however, upgraded the case to direct assault with attempted murder since the complainants were police officers, said Villagonzalo, Canangca-an’s legal counsel.

When presented before the prosecutor, Canangca-an chose not to undergo a preliminary investigation which could have given him the chance to submit his counter-affidavit and refute the allegations.

This being so, Jadraque decided to elevate the charges against Canangca-an before the Regional Trial Court.

Canangca-an surrendered to police past 9 p.m. on Wednesday, about seven hours after his cousin and the latter’s group engaged operatives in a shootout.

Speaking to reporters, he said he only drove his cousin Felix Abacajan Jr., one of the targets of the police operation last Wednesday, and wasn’t involved in the shooting incident.

Recovered inside the Nissan Navara driven by Canangca-an were a bulletproof vest, a gun box and two cotton swabs.

Last Wednesday’s shootout led to the death of Felix’s younger brother Joeser and a certain Julian Bonghanoy Jr.

Felix and his brother Joeser were the subjects of a search warrant issued by Judge Gilbert Moises of the Regional Trial Court Branch 18 for illegal possession of firearms.