Friday, July 01, 2005
Suspect in lawyer's ambush-slay charged
By Raquel C. Bagnol
DAVAO CITY -- Charges were filed before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) against a man who was accused of shooting to death a lawyer and his nephew in Panacan, Davao City last February.
City Prosecutor Raul B. Bendigo approved the filing of charges for two counts of murder against Ricardo Mulac, alias Cocoy, based on the recommendation of assistant City Prosecutor Mariam April V. Mastura-Mamukid who found probable cause to hold respondent for court trial.
Mamukid resolved the case on uncontested evidence, since the respondent did not submit his counter-affidavit to refute the charges despite an order to him to do so in March.
Mamukid in her ruling held that there was treachery and evident premeditation in the attack and considered this an aggravating circumstance.
A policeman executed an affidavit and claimed he saw Mulac shoot lawyer Reuel Dalguntas, 45, and his nephew-driver Garry Hofileña, 24, in Panacan on February 5.
The witness said that immediately after the incident, the suspect fled on board a motorcycle with two other men who acted as lookout.
He said the suspects did not even stop when flagged down by the Task Force Davao operatives in Ilang, Tibungco.
The witness was able to identify Mulac from the photo gallery in the Sasa police station.
Police investigators earlier said that although only one fatal bullet hit Dalguntas and 10 peppered Hofileña's body, they still believe the killers' target was the lawyer and not the nephew.
Police recovered 10 empty shells of caliber .45 pistol at the crime scene.
Dalguntas was on his way to a conference in Davao City aboard his blue Mitsubishi Adventure when they were caught in traffic near the Panacan Public Market.
Irish Poloyapoy, 22, niece of Dalguntas, was also hit but survived the ambush.
She was brought by the police with Dalguntas to the San Pedro Hospital for treatment. No bailbond is recommended for Mulac's provisional liberty. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
Click here for a chronology of the crisis.
Click here for the transcript of Arroyo's confession.
(July 1, 2005 issue)
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