9 men rapped for trying to kill minor

CEBU – Nine men are now facing charges of frustrated murder for ganging up on and stabbing a minor in barangay Cadulawan, Minglanilla town, last April 20.

In a resolution, Provincial Prosecutor Napoleon Alburo, has recommended for the filing of frustrated murder charges against, Simplicio Herbias Jr., Christian Pantalunan, Louie Gumintawon, Jaime Herbias, Abigail Pantalunan, Hendrito Pantalunan Jr., Peter Ababa and Eutequio Rapayla, all residents of sitio Tagubtob, barangay Cadulawan, Minglanilla.

In his affidavit, the 17-year-old complainant said the accused connived with each other in stabbing him while he and his two companions were on their way home from a disco.

The complainant said that prior to the incident, he was about to get on a motorcycle with his 16-year-old brother and a cousin when the suspects waylaid them. The respondents allegedly hit him with a piece of wood, causing the motorcycle that he was driving to fall down on the road.

After the fall, the minor said the suspects helped each other in boxing and stabbing him several times. The accused only stopped when they knew that he was already badly hurt. The complainant’s 16-year-old brother corroborated these claims.

The complaint was actually filed against 11 persons but prosecutor Alburo recommended the filing of charges against nine suspects only because the other two suspects said that they were not in the scene when incident happened.

The accused, in their counter-affidavit, said it was the complainant and his companions who first caused the trouble.

Respondents Simplicio Herbias, Christian Pantalunan and Louie Gumintawon in their counter-affidavit alleged that the complainants were drunk at that time and were the first to hit them with something hard while their motorcycle passed by them while they were walking by the side of the road.

Although the complainant cannot point out as to who attacked him, the prosecutor still recommended for filing of charges since the nine allegedly took advantage of their number against the complainant. — Jasmin R. Uy/WAB (THE FREEMAN)