Friday, July 18, 2008
Tanod boss’ ‘not guilty’ plea angers parents of slain teen
By Katrina A. Balmaceda
Sun.Star Correspondent
A TANOD chief pleaded not guilty yesterday to an accusation of homicide for the death of a 14-year-old boy last Father’s Day.
Beltran Bosque, chief tanod of Barangay Ermita, arrived by himself at the arraignment proceedings before Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Raphael Yrastorza.
The dead teenager’s parents, Ananias and Luvy Anter, also went to the court early in the morning, waiting for the arraignment proceedings to begin.
When Bosque finally entered his “not guilty” plea, Ananias shook his head and slammed a fist on his knee in frustration.
Bosque and the Anters separately denied interviews after the arraignment. Ananias only said, “Sukol na lang (We’ll have to fight this out)” as he led his wife out of the courtroom.
Bosque himself walked in and out of the courtroom with no jail escorts, his wrists free from handcuffs. No one accompanied him.
His P15,000 bail had been paid for by Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo Rupinta through personal funds.
Before the arraignment, Bosque was counseled by public attorney Alrey Ouano. His original counsel, Lucero Bagacay Jr. of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), was not around.
Meanwhile, assistant city prosecutor Rudolph Carillo acted as counsel for the Anters.
During the inquest proceedings last month, the Anters filed a complaint of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide.
Not licensed?
However, Carillo, after consultation with City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon, elevated the complaint to a homicide charge.
Carillo had previously explained that they could not charge Bosque with reckless imprudence resulting to homicide even if the shooting was done in the line of duty.
This is because Bosque, whose shot was aimed at a drunk fruit vendor, was not justified in doing so, having received no provocation from the latter.
Bosque and two other Ermita tanods had responded to an alarm, triggered by a fruit vendor gone drunk, at the Carbon market on June 15, Father’s Day.
The vendor, Wilson Bagol, was said to have been carrying a bolo.
But one of the three tanods misfired and instead hit Junard, Ananias’ son. Later, it was also revealed that the tanods were not licensed to carry firearms.
Junard was hit in the chest at 1:15 a.m. while standing beside his father’s parked trisikad (a pedal-powered tricycle).
While admitting that he was one of the three tanods who fired shots, he denied it was his bullet that hit Junard. He added he helped find someone to bring the boy to the hospital. It was Rupinta who aided the police investigation that led to Bosque’s indictment.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 18, 2008 issue)
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