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Sunday, June 25, 2006
4 men face trial for attempt on Atlas labor leader’s life
By Katrina N. Tabanao Sun.Star Correspondent
Four men will be facing frustrated murder charges for the attempt on the life of Atlas labor leader Antonio Cuizon, who was ambushed last October in Sitio Gaway-Gaway, Barangay Uling, Naga town.
In a 10-page resolution, the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office recommended the filing of criminal charges against Robert Sandag, Danilo Carmelotes, Marcos Billones and Barangay Captain Carlito Sandag of Tagbobunga, Asturias, Cebu.
Claudio Billones, who was shot and killed in a separate incident, was not included in the charges. He was the son of Marcos, leader of the Agricultural Atlas Miners for Unpaid Employees Association Inc.
Marcos’ union and Cuizon’s Panaghiusa sa mga Mamumuo sa Atlas competed for the right to haul scrap iron from inside the ACMDC compound, which was sold to help cover the balance of the termination pay of its laid-off workers.
“Based on the evidence of both parties and taking into account all the attendant circumstances, there is probable cause against all the respondents,” the resolution read.
“Well-settled is the rule in a long line of decisions by the Supreme Court that alibi and denial are inherently weak and have always been viewed with disfavor by the courts due to the facility with which they can be concocted,” it further said.
“The defense of alibi as a rule is considered with suspicion and is always received with caution, not only because it is inherently weak and unreliable but can easily be fabricated.”
Cuizon, 50, suffered four gunshot wounds that blew off four fingers of his right hand. He also had a graze wound in his right forearm and left side of the neck. A bullet pierced his left forearm.
He was driving his mother home when gunmen on two red Honda XTS motorcycles, two persons on each bike, opened fire. One bike on each side of the road pursued Cuizon.
The assailants’ faces were covered with face towels and helmets.
In his defense, Carlito said that on Oct. 10, 2005, he was in his house the whole day, helping his neighbor fix his fence.
Marcos also denied he was within the vicinity of the crime. He said he was in his residence in Toledo City and had a gathering of association members.
The other two respondents concurred with Marcos’ statements. They said that at the time of the shooting, they were at the residence of Marcos for a gathering.
But Cuizon and other witnesses identified them as the ones behind the attack.
Robert is said to be the one who fired at Cuizon using an M-16 rifle. Carmelotes was also identified as the one who shot Cuizon using a short firearm.
Cuizon also identified Claudio as the motorcycle-riding man who followed him from Naga to Sitio Gaway-gaway.
Cuizon, his mother, his two grandchildren and another companion all survived the attack.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 25, 2006 issue)
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