THE arraignment for one of Davao Region's most wanted New People's Army (NPA) member who is accused of murder, slight illegal detention, and robbery is set tomorrow, March 19, at the sala of the Regional Trial Court (RTC)-Davao City Branch 17.
RTC Branch 17 Judge Evalyn Arellano-Morales, in her order dated March 11, scheduled the arraignment of Roberto Castillote and other unidentified co-members of the NPA Guerilla Front 54 tomorrow with lawyer Rudy Alonzo of the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) as their legal counsel.
The arraignment is scheduled to determine whether Castillote and the other respondents will plead guilty or not for the killing of Paulino Landim Jr. and the robbery and illegal detention of Albert Matundo, Cesar Agas, Albin Agas, Jelber Agas, Elmer Agas, Jubert Agas.
Prosecutor Serafica Weis affirmed the charges filed against the communist rebels based on the complaint filed by Paulino Landim Sr., father of the slain victim.
The elder Landim, in his affidavit said, the victims were hiking at the Purok Mabanlas in Barangay Carmen, Baguio District, Davao City on March 1 when they came across a band of communist rebels led by Castillote.
The suspect allegedly stole a pair of binoculars and a digital camera from Matundo before releasing him while the rest were held captive and were taken to Purok 8 where they were allegedly tried before the "people's court."
The companions of the younger Landim were released but the latter was taken to Purok 4 of the same barangay where he was executed after he the communist rebels found him guilty of committing crimes against the people. He was gunned down with his hands behind his back in front of a chapel in Purok 4.
Castillote was arrested on March 7 and is currently detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 11.
But while Castillote's arraignment is scheduled, he has two pending murder cases in different branches of RTC after he was tagged in the killing of Barangay Cadalian chief Alex Ingco last September 29 and the death of Ruel Catigan Pague last September 5.
