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Court sets $100K bail for assault suspect
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Posted on Aug 16 2004
The Superior Court has set a $100,000-bail for the possible temporary release of a man who was arrested for seriously injuring another in a fight over a woman early Friday morning.
Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo yesterday affirmed that reasonable cause exists to believe that 38-year-old Edgardo Agno Palma probably committed the crimes of aggravated assault and battery and assault and battery.
Govendo, however, ruled that no probable cause exists as to the charge of manslaughter against Palma.
In a sworn declaration submitted in court, police detective Juan M. Santos said Palma admitted punching Luciano Sylvestre Ortiz. Palma refused to give further statement to police after being apprised of his constitutional rights as an accused.
The victim sustained serious injury and has been hooked to a life support system at the Commonwealth Health Center’s intensive care unit since he was rushed to the hospital after the incident.
“The doctors indicated that a blunt object was used to create the injury, the victim had a fractured skull and as a result of the head injury, the victim’s left body is paralyzed,” Santos said.
Crime scene investigators seized a metal pipe, a possible weapon that could have been used by the suspect in attacking the victim, the detective added.
Initial investigation conducted by police showed that Ortiz was asking a woman if she has a romantic relationship with the suspect. The woman was aboard a car at the parking lot of the Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach early Friday morning. As Ortiz asked the woman, the suspect stood behind him.
Quoting witnesses’ statements, the detective said a fight ensued between Palma and Ortiz. Later, Ortiz appeared motionless and bloodied while slumped on the pavement.
The Philippine consulate’s assistance-to-nationals officer Victor Española said relatives of Ortiz, who hails from the country’s Pampanga province, would arrive on Saipan this week.
