The state witness in the Manluminsag  ambush in Jimalalud last year was rushed  to  the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital in Dumaguete City when he experienced symptoms of  a heart attack.

William Paunilian was taken to the NOPH Monday midnight and was placed  under the  Intensive Care  Unit, but  is now  recuperating, Police provincial director, S/Supt. Melvin Buenafe said.

Buenafe  said  the  heart  attack  could have been caused by  stress and  pressure of his being  a  vital witness.

On  Friday, Paunilian  was brought  to  the Hall  of  Justice in Barangay Piapi, Dumaguete City,  for  the  preliminary  hearing  of  the  case.

The proceeding, however, was  postponed  when former Rep. Jacinto Paras  (3rd district, NegOr) who was  accused  of  being  behind  the incident  failed  to  appear.

Paunilian was one of the suspects who turned witness after he was apprehended in Manila on August 13, 2007.

Buenafe  said  Paunilian  asked the  court  to  allow his transfer to the  Negros  Oriental Detention  and Rehabilitation Center, from the  Guihulngan jail where he is presently detained.

Meanwhile, Dumaguete City has a new chief of police replacing Supt. Dionardo Carlos, who is presently attending to family concerns in Manila.

Carlos attended an alumni homecoming last week and applied for 20- day vacation leave when he came back on February 18.

Upon the request of Mayor Agustin Perdices, Carlos is temporarily replaced by Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag. Carlos will end his two-year stint in April.

Perdices said Cabanag’s main task is to maintain peace and order in Dumaguete and address the proliferation of illegal gambling and illegal drugs.*MA

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