Saturday, October 11, 2008 Retired cop sued for driver's slay By Rhodamae M. Hernandez
THE City Prosecutor's Office formally charged a retired member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for stabbing a tricycle driver to death at SIR in New Matina, Davao City, earlier this month.
Charged with murder of Monet Magallanes was retired policeman Sancho Alegada Cahilig after prosecutor Victor Dumlao found probable cause to hold him for court trial based on the accounts of witness Irene Cristal Salle, 27, a resident of Phase 1 in SIR Matina, Davao city.
In her affidavit, she said that around 6 p.m. of October 3, she was with her cousin seated on the road sidewalk a few meters from her uncle, Fernando Alpabito, who was in a conversation with the suspect.
The suspect then walked towards Ricky Vergara, and they overheard the former asking their uncle whether Vergara knew who his wife's lover was.
She also heard the suspect asking who the owner of the tricycle parked several meters away from them was, telling Vergara that the driver was his wife's lover.
All the while, Magallanes, who was on the tricycle, was unaware of Cahilig's rants against him.
As Magallanes drove the tricycle towards Cahilig, the latter stabbed him with a knife.
Magallanes managed to run towards his cousin's house to ask for help. He died while being treated at the San Pedro Hospital.
No bail was recommended for the respondent's temporary liberty.
