A POLICEMAN in Calatrava town was found guilty for homicide after killing a resident in 1996, the police said Thursday.

Police Chief Inspector Regidor Alvarado of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office's (Noppo) Administrative Branch identified the convicted policeman as PO3 Leodonio Dio, who was detained for almost 13 years and now was meted for four to eight years of imprisonment.

The order was issued by Judge Katherine Go of Regional Trial Court Branch 59.

Since Dio has been in detention for 13 years already, the former Calatrava policeman was ordered released from the Negros Occidental provincial jail.

Police records showed that Dio shot dead Marlon Lebiga on October 4, 1996 at the Calatrava Public Market after a misunderstanding.

Dio was ordered to pay the heirs of the victim P50,000 as indemnity for the death, P18,269 as actual damages, and another P50,000 as moral damages, including the cost of suit.

Negros Occidental Police Director Manuel Felix said Noppo is enforcing the law fairly and squarely as part of the Action Plan: Team Negros.

"Let Dio's case serve as warning to all PNP personnel in Negros Occidental," he said. (MAP)