Wednesday, September 26, 2007 Man, 2 sons in murder raps By Rhodamae M. Hernandez
THE City Prosecutor's Office filed murder charges against a father and his two sons for killing a man inside a house in Sitio Cabagtucan, Purok Dominga in Calinan, Davao City just this month.
Charged for the death of Joselito were Pablo Sr. and his two sons Pablo Jr. and Vincent (all surnames withheld because Vincent is a minor) after City Prosecutor Trinidad dela Torre-Cardona found probable cause to hold them for court trial.
Joselito's mother is Pablo Sr.'s wife. The two other suspects were Joselito's half-brothers.
Court records showed Joselito dropped by his mother's house where his stepfather and half-brothers live last September 17.
For undisclosed reason, Joselito had an argument with his half-brothers. Pablo Sr. sided with his sons.
Joselito's wife, who was just about to enter the house, said she heard shouting and as she rushed in saw her husband Joselito bloodied, telling her that the three ganged up on him.
As she ran out again to ask for help from neighbors, she was met by Pablo Jr. who was armed with a bolo and was looking for her husband. She also saw Pablo Sr. whose shirt was bloodied.
In her resolution, Cardona said that the victim's statement to his wife immediately after the incident is more believable than the admission of Pablo Jr. that he was the only one who hacked and killed the victim.
Cardona said the victim's statement that the suspects ganged up on him could only be a spontaneous exclamation that was likely to be true because he did not have time to manufacture lies. Thus, respondents were charged with murder and not homicide as filed by the Calinan police.
No bail was recommended for each of the respondent's temporary liberty.
