A FIREMAN and his nephew who are accused of killing an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) last April 11 surrendered yesterday to Regional Trial Court Judge Gilbert Moises.
Assisted by his lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo, Senior Fire Officer 1 Richard Sacedon of Parian Fire Sub-Station and Jerome Sacedon Fernandez gave themselves up to Moises at past 10 a.m.
The accused opted to surrender upon the advice of their lawyer after Moises issued the warrant for their arrest.
Villagonzalo said his clients surrendered to the court and not to other authorities for security reasons.
“If adto sa police many things could happen. Basin naay mga way klaro nga mahitabo,” Villagonzalo told reporters.
The accused also surrendered because they wanted to face the charges and to prove their innocence, the lawyer said.
“Ako silang giingnan nga di pod makatabang sa ila ang magsibat-sibat, tago-tago (Hiding will not help them). They will face the murder charge squarely kay para nila inosente man gyod sila (They believe they are innocent),” said Villagonzalo.
Implicated
He said the accused have nothing to do with the death of OFW Ramil Onod Empleo. The respondents said they were merely implicated by their neighbors for unknown reasons.
The accused are set to be arraigned on Dec. 19. Although murder is a non-bailable offense, Villagonzalo said they will file a motion for bail since the evidence of guilt against them is not strong.
Sacedon was charged with murder on June 13 for allegedly shooting to death Empleo and dumping the victim’s body in Sitio Inad, Barangay Tabunan.
Nephew
The same complaint was filed before the Office of Cebu City Prosecutor against the fireman’s nephew, Fernandez.
Empleo’s wife, Haide, was named a respondent in the parricide case.
Police implicated Haide after a witness saw her with Sacedon and Fernandez carrying the body believed to be that of Empleo in Liburon, Carcar City in the evening of April 11, 2016.
Haide was allegedly seen holding a flashlight. Before seeing the three persons carrying the body, the witness heard several gunshots after Empleo entered the house.
Empleo’s body was found in the afternoon of April 14.
Sacedon and Fernandez are detained at the Carcar City jail.