3 get reclusion perpetua for killing man

THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) sentenced three men to reclusion perpetua for stabbing to death another man in 2006.

The convicts were identified as Ronel Iroy, Rolando Llego and Ryan Sumatra.

The penalty of reclusion perpetua is imprisonment for 20 years and one day to 40 years.

In her judgment, RTC Branch 11 Judge Virginia Europa found them guilty beyond reasonable doubt for killing Arnel Bonghanoy on September 2, 2006 in Barangay Marilog.

The court also ordered the three to pay P50,000 to the heirs of the victim.

Court records showed that the three, armed with a knife, conspiringly stabbed Bonghanoy inside a jeepney where the latter was staying.

The crime was witnessed by a minor who was with Bonghanoy around 11 p.m.

According to the young witness, he was lying at the back of the jeepney while the victim stayed in front listening to music when the three men threw stones at them before attacking Bonghanoy.

He said Iroy held the head of Bonghanoy, Sumatra held the legs while Llego stabbed the victim several times.

The boy recognized the three as they live in the neighborhood. The boy got so scared, he ran home and told his mother about the incident only the following morning.

They found the dead body of Bonghanoy near the jeepney.

The three denied the allegations before the court when police invited them for questioning. The three said they were already home asleep at that time.

Europa, in her order, said the crime scene could easily be reached by the three accused, hence it was not impossible for them to be at the area around 11 p.m.

Europa also said the testimony of the minor witness was “straight-forward, positive and credible.”

The promulgation of judgment transpired last Friday, September 28. (ANC)