Friday, October 26, 2007 Ex-boxer: I shot radioman By Katrina N. Tabanao Sun.Star Staff Reporter
AFTER almost two years of maintaining his innocence, the accused in the murder of Bantay Radyo reporter George Benaojan pleaded guilty.
Roberto Recla “Dinky” Jagdon was sentenced by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Eric Menchavez to eight to 12 years in prison.
The court also ordered Jagdon to pay Benaojan’s family P379,000 in actual damages and P100,000 in moral damages.
In yesterday’s hearing, lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo told the court their plea bargaining agreement with the prosecution.
The agreement states that Jagdon will enter a guilty plea for a lesser crime of homicide. Jagdon, a former professional boxer, had been charged with murder.
He was re-arraigned yesterday for homicide.
Lourdes Benaojan, George’s mother, also signed the agreement. She said she wants her 27-year-old son’s soul to rest.
Mastermind
But people close to Benaojan said the mastermind of his death remains free.
Benaojan was shot in front of his stall at the central market in Barangay Lawaan 1, Talisay City around 9:30 p.m. last Dec. 1, 2005.
He suffered gunshot wounds in the mouth, chest and neck from a .45 pistol.
Benaojan died inside the operating room of Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City.
Villagonzalo said he asked Jagdon if somebody hired him to kill Benaojan.
But the accused refused to answer the question.
Villagonzalo also said that at first, his client insisted that he is innocent. Last May 26, 2006, he refused a plea bargaining agreement offered by Judge Menchavez.
Menchavez tackled the plea bargain after the resolution of the City Prosecutor’s Office showed that a scuffle for the gun ensued between Jagdon and Benaojan.
Villagonzalo said Jagdon decided to change his plea after witnesses of the prosecution identified him as the perpetrator.
Talking
Adriano Llanos, 41, testified that he was talking with Benaojan when the accused shot the broadcaster.
Llanos recalled that he saw Jagdon twice that night. While he was tending his store around 7 p.m., Jagdon passed by, wearing a black loose polo, jeans and rubber shoes.
He also narrated that while he and Benaojan were talking, he again saw Jagdon. This time, the accused stood beside Benaojan, pulled out a gun and pointed it at Benaojan’s forehead.
Benaojan, according to Llanos, smiled, probably thinking it was a joke.
The accused allegedly pulled the trigger, but the .45 pistol jammed, giving Benaojan time to grapple for the gun.
However, Benaojan slipped and fell on his knees. Jagdon then shot him, Llanos said.
It was the second attack on Benaojan. Last Aug. 5, 2004, Benaojan and two other dyDD radiomen were ambushed. The three survived the attack.
