Police have filed a criminal complaint for murder before the City Prosecutor’s Office against four persons believed to be responsible for the death of an American national who was mauled dawn of Dec. 26 after coming out of ZanZibar Restaurant & Lounge in Dumaguete.
Police Insp. Blas Alpeche of the Dumaguete City Police, the assigned investigator of the case, filed murder raps last Jan. 8 against the alleged bouncer Michael Lim, also known as Christopher Remollo Lim and also as Boyet; Glyn Herungay Eltagunde, the cook; Nano, the 17-year old waiter; and a fourth John Doe suspect.
The bouncer, Michael Lim, appears to be the same person caught on CCTV camera as the one who smashed a bottle on the head of the victim, Phil Prins, a U.S. Army Scout veteran, who taught journalism at Foundation University.
Prins died of multiple blunt traumas to the head on his 35th birthday on Dec. 29, three days after he was beaten up outside ZanZibar Resto-bar.
Present during the filing of the criminal complaint was the victim’s private lawyer Alexander Acain who arrived from Manila to make sure they will have an airtight case.
Part of the evidences submitted included the extrajudicial confession of Eltagunde, the Zanzibar cook who was also caught on CCTV as one of those who mauled the victim, and affidavits executed by media personalities to whom Eltagunde confessed about the crime.
The minor, “Nano”, a waiter at ZanZibar, admitted in his affidavit that he was also among those who kicked the victim who was lying helpless on the ground.
However, a fourth suspect remained unnamed and at large, believed to be one of the customers at Zanzibar that early morning.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled on Jan. 27 before Assistant City Prosecutor Alvin Aseniero at the Hall of Justice wherein at least three witnesses have been summoned to appear.
The witnesses include Amir Hossein Baghari Lankarani and Mary Grace dela Cruz Sacro, manager and cashier, respectively, of ZanZibar.
ZanZibar was ordered closed on orders of Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria for an indefinite period effective Jan. 14 after the City government discovered it was operating without the necessary Mayor’s Permit and business permit since last year.
Task Force SAGARR (Special Action Group Advocating Rapid Reforms), headed by retired police officer Eddie Oira, served the Mayor’s closure order Thursday evening at ZanZibar Restaurant & Lounge.
City Administrator William Ablong explained the seven-day notice to ZanZibar to comply with such requirements under the 1997 Omnibus Tax Ordinance of the City government had lapsed Wednesday, thus, the issuance of a closure order.
Earlier, the business establishment had asked for a three-month extension within which to comply with the requirements.
In a letter to City Administrator William Ablong dated Jan. 6, 2016, two days after the first notice was issued, Lorraine Kay A. Rosal said they have consistently paid the city business taxes, fees and other charges, but could not get a Mayor’s Permit for reasons on the technical/engineering aspect of the building.
Oira assured that the City government will continue monitoring ZanZibar in the coming days to ensure that it has stopped operating as so ordered by the Mayor.
The closure order remains in effect for an indefinite period until Zanzibar has obtained a Business Permit/Mayor’s Permit from the City government of Dumaguete. (PNA)
