Saturday, March 15, 2008 Another killer of Ninoy, Galman dies in Bilibid
ANOTHER convicted soldier in the controversial Aquino-Galman double murder case died Friday inside his detention cell at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City of a heart attack, said Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Persida Ruth Acosta.
Acosta identified the soldier as Constable First Class Mario Lazaga, 59, a former member of the Philippine Air Force Aviation Security Command (Avsecom).
According to Acosta, Lazaga succumbed to heart attack at 7:15 a.m. Friday inside his cell adding that the prisoner had been complaining of chest pains and hypertension in the past.
She said they had already informed Lazaga's mother of his death although his body remained at the NBP hospital as of noon Friday.
Lazaga has a pending appeal for executive clemency before the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) along with the rest of the accused.
Prior to his death, Lazaga reportedly suffered a stroke, as attested by the medical abstract he submitted to PAO and BPP.
The medical abstracts were certified by the Department of Health (DOH) on January 9 this year and the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) last February 13 when it was submitted by PAO.
In a statement issued by her office, Acosta expressed sadness over Lazaga's death saying she has been very consistent in invoking his innocence of the crime.
"Lazaga has been consistent for about 25 years in invoking their innocence in the crime charged against them. Nonetheless, justice and freedom have been elusive to these men. In death although, Lazaga who fought for his dear life has now been given divine justice and eternal freedom," Acosta said.
The PAO chief, at the same time, said she is confident the appeal for clemency of the remaining soldiers would be granted due course.
She said most of the convicted soldiers have "serious and life-threatening diseases."
"We at PAO are hopeful that the remaining soldiers who have serious and life-threatening diseases would soon be released by virtue of executive clemency. The PAO banks on the truth to set them free based on the evidence we have submitted to the Department of Justice, Sandiganbayan and the Supreme Court," she said.
Lazaga is one of the 16 soldiers convicted for the assassination of former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. and Rolando Galman on the tarmac of the Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983.
The late lawmaker was stepping off the tarmac while under heavy guard when he was shot in the head. Seconds after, aviation security men also shot dead Rolando Galman, who was accused of assassinating Aquino.
Lazaga was a member of the Avsecom boarding party composed of Sergeants Claro Lat, Filomeno Miranda, Arnulfo de Mesa and Rogelio Moreno and led by Second Lieutenant Jesus Castro that fetch Aquino from the China Air Lines plane he took on that fateful day.
Another convict in the same case, former Army Sergeant Cordova Estelo, was stabbed dead by a fellow inmate inside the NBP on December 31, 2005.
His assailant, Manuel Ocenar, who is serving a sentence for rape, was injured after he was shot by responding prison guard.
Last November, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pardoned Master Sergeant Pablo Martinez who has already reached the age of 70.
The 16 convicts in the Aquino-Galman murder case are Sergeants Pablo Martinez, Romeo Desolong, Ernesto Mateo, Rolando de Guzman, Cordova Estelo, Ruben Aquino, Arnulfo Artates and Felizardo Tan; Lazaga; Lat; Miranda; de Mesa; Moreno; Castro; Captain Romeo Bautista; and Army Brigadier General Luther Custodio, the highest military officer in the case who died of cancer in prison. (AH/Sunnex)
